April 1
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5
In the preceding two verses, Paul tells us that we will encounter suffering, but our suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance produces character. From character we have hope which does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts. Verse 5 gives us an unshakeable confidence serving as an anchor for the hope we have.
“Hope does not put us to shame.” This kind of hope is not wishful thinking. It is a settled and sure expectation. This type of hope will not fall short, disappoint, or let us down. We use the word “hope” often, and it is common that the things we hope in or hope for do disappoint us and fall short of our expectations. We hope a repair bill isn’t too expensive. We hope it will (or will not) rain. We hope for a favorable medical report. We hope our children finish school, find a job, get married, and have a family. We hope to go on vacation. To retire. The list goes on and on. We are always hoping for something. The hope Paul is describing here in verse 5 will not disappoint or fail us because it is rooted in the character of God, not in our strength or depth of belief. It is a hope grounded in “nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
For Christians, this kind of hope is present because God’s love has been poured into our hearts. God’s love and grace have been lavishly given to us (1 John 3:1 and Ephesians 1:7-8). I love the words “poured” and “lavished.” God has not just sprinkled a little bit of His love and grace in our hearts. He has not given us just a light dusting of His grace and love in our lives. No! He has poured it out. You’ve likely seen the “Gatorade baths” that coaches will often receive from their players after a big win in a sporting event. The players don’t just pour a little Gatorade on their coach. They take the entire container and dump it out. This is what I see God doing in my life. His love for me is so great, so deep, so wide that He pours out (gives me a “Gatorade bath” with) His love and grace on me. It affects every part of my life. Nothing in my life escapes His grace and love.
Though I will experience suffering in this life, I can remain confident that the suffering will produce perseverance - that I can “stay the course” without breaking. In turn, this will yield character which strengthens the hope I have in the confidence that God is good and His promises are true. It is this kind of hope that recognizes God’s love that He has poured into my heart. I know that even through trials, I have a guaranteed and unshakeable assurance of God’s love and that a future glory awaits me. God’s ultimate display of love happened on the cross where His one and only Son’s sacrifice paid for your sins, my sins, and the sins of the whole world. This kind of love has made it possible for me to be in right standing with God. This kind of love has changed my life. This kind of love has been poured into my heart…and your heart.
How has this kind of love changed you?
Heavenly Father - Thank You that Your love isn't just a sprinkling in my life, but a flood. Thank You for pouring out Your love and grace on me. In the moments when life is hard and I feel alone and abandoned, remind me of Your great love for me that You’ve poured out through the Holy Spirit. Strengthen my heart to believe that You are working through my struggles to produce character and give me a hope that will not put me to shame. I trust that Your promises are true and that the end of my story is securely held in Your mighty and powerful hands. Thank You for Your Son and His sacrifice on the cross. Thank You for the hope and assurance this gives me. In Your name we pray. Amen