HOPE is by far – my most favorite word in the whole Bible! We all need a little hope in our lives, and I pray that each of you reading this devotional will keep seeking it daily in your walk.

-Robin Wiley

Scripture

Romans 8:22-25

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

For the Adults:

Imagine that your favorite team plays in a championship game, but you’re not able to watch it live. This is a picture we can certainly visualize with all sporting events being cancelled due to COVID-19! At the end of the night you check your phone and see that they won, so the next morning you sit down to watch the recording. Even though you haven’t seen it yet, you know that when the clock hits zero, you’re going to be the happiest person in the world!

Well, in Romans 8 Paul uses a word to describe this type of knowledge—it’s called “hope.” In the English language we typically use the word hope to mean wish. “I hope I make a good grade on this test” or “I hope I get into this school” or “I hope my team wins.” It’s a way of saying, “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I wish it would work in my favor.”

But the Bible uses the word hope to describe a future certainty, not a wishful dream. John Piper says, “Hope is faith in the future tense.” In this passage of Scripture, Paul says that we hope for what we cannot see, and we wait for it with patience. If we were to read all of Romans 8, we would see that Paul is writing about our future glory in Jesus. He’s reminding us that even when the world around us is crumbling (as it might seem to be with this pandemic), we know how our story ends. If we are in Christ, we have a future certainty that our bodies and souls, as well as creation itself, will one day be made new. And we don’t just wish for this moment; we hope for it with all our hearts.

For the Kiddos:

Enter:

What do you think Paul means when he tells us to hope for what we cannot see?

Can you think of any stories in the Old Testament when God’s people hoped for what they could not see? How do those stories point us to the coming of Jesus?

How do you think we might apply this passage of Scripture to the coronavirus epidemic?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (Luke 17:12-19 and Psalm 107:8-15 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used.

Pause

Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. This might be a great time to chose a different place to do your devotional time. Maybe sit outside or in the backyard and be still and let God’s word work in their hearts!

Wonder:

· What do you hope for right now?

· Why is our hope is Jesus Christ?

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

This would be a great opportunity to draw or color a picture of what you believe hope means and also what it can provide for you. Display your artwork(s) around the house.
Make a point to share the message of God’s hope in Christ Jesus with someone else this week.
Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example:

Jesus, you purchased a hope and a future for us when you laid down your life on the cross and then rose again. Help us to trust in that hope and not in the uncertainty of this world. Thank you for the promise of this hope, especially in times of great turmoil and uncertainty. May we worship you alone and live each day to your honor and glory. In the name of Jesus - Amen.