Romans 15:10-13 “God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe”

Getting the job done well can be the result of what tools you have available. Certain projects could get accomplished quickly and easily if you had the right tool for the job. Using a screwdriver instead of a chisel won’t carve the beauty you are trying to create. A hammer isn’t the best tool to change your tire. Being filled with joy and peace and hope by God is achieved through your believing. Your belief is the instrument or means or pathway by which God can fill you with all joy and peace and hope. It sounds hokey. It sounds tv-evangelist. Yet, the word structure in Greek supports the truth. “As you believe” could also be translated as “to the one who believes”. The ones who believe are the receivers of what God is giving. It would be like saying “He threw the ball to me.” God throws the ball to the one who believes. God may throw the ball to the one who does not believe, but they are not ready to catch the ball and it sails right past them. We often miss the joy and peace and hope because we are not trusting or expecting or believing in God to throw them to us. God can bring us into His family through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We have many reasons to rejoice and praise God for what He has done for us through Jesus. He has shown us mercy and grace. He has offered us forgiveness and compassion. He desires to give us good and perfect gifts. He desires to give us a hope and a future. The right tool in our tool box is not going to church, it’s not doing good more than doing bad, and it’s not about works. The right tool in our spiritual tool box is believing in God.  What tool have you been using?


Prayer Starter: God of hope, Your goodness to me in something that I cannot fully comprehend. Forgive me if I see You as someone far away, or someone who is too busy for my little issues. God, I thank You that all You require is a believing heart because I fail often in doing the right thing, saying the right thing, and thinking the right thing. Help me to remain faithful in believing in You. Some days are stronger than others. I will not give up from believing in You and believing that You want to fill me with joy and peace.


You’re reading a devotion from the Easter Devotional Plan 2016. For the rest of the 40 day plan, visit here.