May 16
22
The Gospel of Joy and Peace in believing
‘Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.’ (Rom. 15:13).
These words of inspiration encourage my weary heart. The gospel of God in Christ is so designed to give God all the glory for the salvation of sinners (1Cor. 1:30-31). But thank God, it is also designed to give to broken, sinful and weary sinners joy and peace through the gospel (Rom. 5:1). Notice this also, it is “joy and peace in believing,” not working, not ceremony and the traditions of men, but by simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that we may abound in hope (Heb. 11:6). The Lord Jesus Christ is the whole believer’s hope before God and men (Col. 1:27; 2:9-10; 3:11). This is constantly brought into our heart and thoughts through the power of the Holy Spirit, Who shall take the things of Christ and show them unto us, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:13-15). Tom Harding