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From Character, Hope

Words of Faith Final

From Character, Hope
Words of Faith 8-16-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Romans 5
 [2b] And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

     Christian hope is different from anything that the world knows.  Our hope is not in the things that the world hopes in.  Our hope is in the glory of God.  The world hopes in the acquisition of things, the accolades of men, or the conquest of goals. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  
     As believers, we know that even in hard or even unbearable situations, the glory of God can be manifest. Even in the face of persecution or terrible circumstances, the glory of God abounds.  

     Our hope is not rooted in circumstances. We even rejoice in our sufferings! Why?  How? Because we have gained a larger perspective than the world can ever know. We can see the sufferings of life against the larger canvass of eternity.
     As believers, we know that suffering produces perseverance-- that quality that causes us to surrender to the call of God no matter what.  Perseverance produces character.  As we persevere, God shapes within us qualities that reflect His nature to the world, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.
     Character is the goal that God has for us.  God is always more interested in our character than our comfort because character is eternal; comfort is transitory. God desires for us to have character that will reflect Him for eternity. Character gives way to genuine hope that does not disappoint.
          How does all this happen?  God pours His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  This is the marvelous miracle that sets the Christian life apart from any other.  The Christian is able to do the impossible.  The Christian is able to forgive the unforgivable, love the unlovable, care for the unseemly, and have patience with unbearable people.  How?  Not of our own strength, ability, or religious response.  It is the love of God within us.  This is love that has no boundaries and knows no limit.

        Lord, I surrender to You.   I rejoice in the hope of Your glory.  I trust that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Pour Your love into my heart by the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2021 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.