Hope Does Not Disappoint

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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 5:3-5 

We live in hope. As God moves to sanctify us, He renews us in the whole person after the image of Christ. The more like Christ we become, the more we are able to view things from His perspective. To view things from God’s perspective is true spirituality. When we view things from His perspective we realize that He is the reason we have hope. Because our hope is in Him and He never fails, hope does not disappoint. Every experience of our life, rightly understood, changes us to become more Christlike. Therefore we understand that God is using all these experiences to prepare us for eternity with Him. This preparation involves a number of things, not the least of which is the love of God which the Holy Spirit pours out in our hearts. As He pours out this love of God we begin to return that love. As the Scripture says elsewhere, ‘We love Him because He first loved us.’ The Holy Spirit is ever working to draw us out after Christ. Everything He does in us is to the end purpose of bringing us closer to Him. As He brings us closer to Him we see HIm more clearly, contemplate Him more fully, love Him more fervently, and imitate Him more thoroughly. This is all moving to an eternal end which is certain.    

Our Gracious Master and our God, 
we rejoice at the work which You are doing within us. 
We praise You that Your Holy Spirit is  
sanctifying us daily. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning