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Hope in Salvation

Read: Romans 8:18–25

SOAP: Romans 8:24–25

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.

What kind of gift recipient are you? Do you like to take your time as you open the gift, carefully unwrapping each layer of ribbon and paper, enjoying the process and anticipation as much as the outcome? Are you a gift shaker, someone who likes to poke, press, tumble, and twist their present with eyes closed to try to guess what is inside before opening it because you love the thrill of a correct guess just as much as the present? Or maybe you rip right in, tossing paper and bows to the side with wild abandon because you can’t wait for a second longer to see what’s inside?

Now take that feeling of excitement and apply it to the holy anticipation of the coming reality of Christ’s long-awaited return, the final piece of our promised salvation when all is made new. 

Paul’s letter to the Romans reminded them to keep their hope on the kingdom God had promised, not what they saw around them. When receiving a gift at Christmas, the eagerness we feel loses some of its spark when we’re handed a gift with no wrapping. We see it. We know what it is. We miss out on the opportunity to hope for something special because we’re immediately faced with reality. 

Paul tells us to keep our hope fixed on what we can’t see—the perfect work of salvation that God is doing on our behalf—and to continue to wait on what God has promised with endurance or perseverance. As we unwrap gifts this Christmas, may each moment of hope in the unknown remind us to press forward with hope in what God still has yet to do in our lives, for His kingdom.

Prayer

God, thank You that we can take moments of this special season to grow closer to You when we celebrate Your Son. Help our faith and hope increase as we connect our feelings of excitement and anticipation with the eagerness we feel about the return of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.