Today’s Devotional: “No Shame in Hope’s Game”

Biblical hope is the confident assurance and anticipation, knowing for certain that no matter what, God will always keep His promise. This assurance and anticipation grow as a believer draws nearer to God through life’s tribulations, which was Paul’s point when he said that tribulation produces perseverance, which in turn produces character, bringing about the hope of God’s glory (Romans 5:3-4).

Paul goes on to say that such hope will never disappoint (Romans 5:5a). The word “disappoint” means “never to make ashamed.” And so, there is no shame in hope’s game, because it never disappoints, and a believer can and will see their hope fulfilled.

This was Paul’s view in his letter to the Philippian Church.

He said, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:20)

When hope is alive, it lights our hearts with the love of God through the Holy Spirit within every believer.

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

We are consciously aware of God’s love and presence because of the Holy Spirit’s presence within us. When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit seals the deal, sealing God’s love and our salvation.

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13)

And so, there is no shame in hope’s game, because God has poured out His love for us and has sealed it in the Holy Spirit of promise.