Hope

Season 2 Episode 46 -- In Galatians chapter 5, we find a list of wonderful characteristics that the indwelling Holy Spirit freely produces in the lives of followers of Jesus.  But have you ever noticed that hope is NOT in this list?  In today's episode, we explore a possible explanation for this, which comes from exploring another familiar Bible passage.

"Reflect on This" is a once-weekly, short devotional podcast. In these devotionals, I share the things I am learning about the ways and nature of God, through applying my study of the Scriptures to life, in practical and fulfilling ways.
 
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Resources that inspired some episodes:

"My Heart, Christ's Home" by Robert Munger

"The Language of Rivers and Stars" by Seth Lewis

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis

 Seth Lewis blog:  https://sethlewis.ie/

35 Bible Verses About Listening To Others (Explained) - Bible Repository 

"Restoration Year: Devotions to Transform Your Relationships, Spirit, and Faith" by John Eldredge

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
 Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers paid apprenticeships to men who need a second chance.  These apprentices learn biblical principles, character, and valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, make a donation, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool includes many free (and low-cost) resources, including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, and devotionals.  It allows you to simultaneously view verses and their corresponding cross-references, lexicon entries, commentaries, and more.
On your computer, go to e-sword.net
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” 

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
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Transcript

Have you ever noticed that hope is NOT listed in the fruit of the Spirit?

Galatians 5:22-23 NASB  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  (23)  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

I recently heard Annie F. Downs share her thoughts on why hope is not in this list of the fruit of the Spirit.  She said, essentially, that all of these traits are free gifts, given to us as a result of salvation.  We did not earn them.  They are freely given to us as a result of the Holy Spirit who enters the life of every believer at the moment of salvation.  It is this ongoing, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that freely produces these wonderful characteristics (this fruit) in our lives.

But hope is not in that list, because it is different.  She pointed to Romans 5 for the explanation.

Romans 5:3-5 HCSB  And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,  (4)  endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.  (5)  This hope will not disappoint [or shame] us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Do you see the progression in this passage?  

·         Afflictions produce endurance.

·         Endurance produces proven character.

·         Proven character produces hope.

So, let me summarize what this passage says about hope.  Hope is the result of character which is proven by persevering through affliction.

Hope is not freely given to us.  Instead, hope is discovered and embraced by us in our walk with Jesus through the inevitable afflictions of life.  It is only by persevering through trials that we can truly appreciate the incredible value of the hope that God then gives us as believers.  

And please hear this:  the hope that God gives us is not just to be experienced in our future time in heaven – it is equally for our present time here on earth.

Hope is also accumulative.  As we are comforted by Jesus through an affliction, that experience gives us more hope that we can persevere through the next affliction.  And then following that affliction, we have even greater hope that we can persevere through future afflictions. 

One more thing about the biblical principle of hope.  The Greek word translated as hope in today’s passage from Romans 5 means literally “anticipation, expectation or confidence” (Strong’s Concordance).  So, it is NOT the wishful thinking we often express in everyday life, such as when we say, “I hope it is sunny today” or “I hope my favorite sports team wins tomorrow” or “I hope I see so-and-so today.”  Instead, biblical hope is a confident anticipation and expectation that God will be with us in every situation we face, offering us encouragement, comfort, wisdom, and guidance.

Let me summarize the key points of today’s principle:

·         Hope is the result of character which is proven by persevering through affliction.

·         In our walk with Jesus through these inevitable afflictions of life, we discover and embrace hope.  

·         It is only by persevering through trials that we can truly appreciate the incredible value of the hope that God then gives us as believers.  

·         We can have confident anticipation and expectation that God will be with us in every situation we face, offering us encouragement, comfort, wisdom, and guidance.

·         As we endure afflictions in our walk with Jesus, we accumulate more hope, and are therefore increasingly more confident that we can endure future afflictions.

·         Hope is not merely a futuristic expectation related to heaven, but also a current expectation for our lives now.  

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”