Romans 5:5: 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.
This is the first time in the Epistle to the Romans that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is mentioned. And it is the Holy Spirit who actualizes, or makes real, the love of God in the hearts of believers—that is, God’s love for us. Today we need to be conscious of the fact that God loves us. How people need to be assured of that in their lives! Only the Spirit of God can make real to us God’s love. 1
Faith (Rom. 5:1), hope (Rom. 5:2), and love (Rom. 5:5) all combine to give the believer patience in the trials of life. And patience makes it possible for the believer to grow in character and become a mature child of God (James 1:1–4). 2
Application
- Hope is vital for our survival. Losing hope is like losing the will to live. That is why God speaks often about providing all the hope you need, new each day.
- When you’re feeling hopeless, please reach out to others. You’re never a burden. You’re actually a blessing to the one who can be the vessel of godly love for you.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for giving me hope. You have never, ever, let me down. Not once.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (Romans 1-8) (electronic ed., Vol. 42). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
2. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
