Hope In the Spirit

Romans 8:16-30

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

More Than Conquerors
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Bee's Thoughts:

I am actually feeling very tired and I am having headache too tonight. My human tendency is to skip tonight's devotion and go to sleep. But thank God that He gave me the strength to persist in spending this time with Him to read His words.

There are a number of things I personally learnt from the above passage:

1. When we are born-again in the Spirit, we will have a strong conviction that we are children of God. This is something we are very sure of b'cos the Spirit of God bears witness in our spirit (v16).

2. As children of God, we have an unseen hope that our decaying human bodies will ultimately be redeemed for something that is unperishable and glorious (v23, 24).

3. As children of God, we can pray in the Spirit who will help us pray according to God's will (v26, 27). This can be felt when we pray in the Spirit through tongue when we are baptised by the Holy Spirit.

4. We can be sure that if we love God and want to do His will, then no matter what happen they are for our good (v28).


Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your strength tonight through You Spirit's enabling. Thank You for Your reminder of the hope and glory I shall receive when I see You. Thank You that all things work together for my good, for I love You love. Amen.