Suffering
Sucks? - no one wants to suffer, no matter the smorgasbord of suffering
available to us. Yet Romans 8 gives us a reason why we should welcome
suffering, for “our future glory far outweighs any present suffering. In
fact, the recompense-glory-is so much greater than the act-suffering-that they
are hardly comparable . . . one should be willing to invest a little to gain a
whole lot more.” [1]
Holy Spirit and Hope - Present suffering tolerated by a brilliant
future is more than wishful thinking - this hope is based on the Holy Spirit
who is the foretaste future life. Thus, even now with the Spirit we have a
communication system with God restored in the form of prayer. [2] The Spirit
helps us in prayer.
The Spirit’s Assurance - We are in God’s hands, the kind of God
who sent part of God’s Self for us; all things will finally work out for
universal good because of this God’s love toward us. Our destiny no longer
lies in our own hands but in the hands of a loving and all-powerful God who is
intent on redeeming and restoring God’s creation. The love of God, thus,
knows no bounds.
What is the difference
between the hope of a Christian and wishful thinking?
What confidence does verse 28 give believers about events that occur in
their lives? When has it been hardest for you to believe this? How have you
seen God bring something good out of a bad situation?
Do you tend to see the glass half-full or half empty (vs. 28-30)?
Venerable Bede’s Egg (ca 673-735) - The certainty of our hope is
prefigured by the egg. No bird is yet discernible in the egg, but the birth of
the bird to come is hoped for. The faithful do not yet look upon the glory of
the fatherland on high in which they believe at the present time, but they
await its coming in hope. [3]
Please see the sermon
posted on DPS for this week, “Praying When Words Fail.”
