The Lodestar

The Lord is aptly called “the God of hope” for several reasons. First, he is the foundation of all hopes; without him, hope is impossible. Second, he gives hope when we are extremely low on it. All hopes are pinned on what he has uttered.

In the previous verse, Paul quoted what the prophet Isaiah predicted about the Messiah who would issue forth from Jesse as a second David.

“And again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope’” (Rom 15:12).

People throughout the centuries lived in the hope of fulfilling this promise. After eight centuries of anticipation, it was finally fulfilled when Christ came to this world as a baby.

This crucial moment in history, when the longing of thousands of God’s people was fulfilled, was of joy and peace. But that experience was only for those who believed that this child was God himself. Those who rejected him were not leaving him, but the joy and peace he came to establish. Faith in Christ was the line that marked those who grasped these divine blessings and those who rejected them.

While faith marks the opening of the floodgate of divine blessings into human life, the Holy Spirit helps us bask in the shine of the hope that God alone gives. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to nurture and keep alive the hope given to us.

When we tend to doubt the Lord’s promises in our lives, the Spirit of God encourages us to keep hoping because our hope is on a sure foundation, the promises of the faithful God.

If your hope feels weary or your faith is flickering, turn again to the God of hope. Spend time meditating on his promises this week. Let Romans 15:12—13 be your anchor—write it down, memorise it, or share it with someone who needs encouragement. Ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle the flame of expectation within you. And if this message has stirred something in your heart, pass it on. Let us become messengers of hope to a world still waiting for peace.

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