Romans 15:8-13 (NIV)

Romans 15:8-13 (NIV)
8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs
9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name."
10 Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."
11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples."
12 And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him."
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God reached this world by sending His Son to serve the Jews with His eye on the truth. God cannot be a liar. God has to stand by His promises. All the promises that the Lord made to Israel were fulfilled in the person of Christ. However part of those promises were also to the Gentiles and that included the promise that Christ came unto His own and His own did not receive Him. The Gentiles were cut off from the promises of God and yet sprinkled throughout the O.T. were these signs that God was not finished with the Gentiles. Paul quotes three verses from the O.T. to let us see the whole truth. At the end of verse 12 we find these words, "...the Gentiles will hope in him." Paul now turns this phrase to pray that the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. Who better to fill us with joy and peace than the God of hope. My prayer for you is that you will be filled with His joy and peace. His joy that abounds even in the midst of hard times and His peace that does pass all understanding. What else comes with this delicious prayer? With this peace and joy, we may also overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The key is to understanding hope, joy and peace is that these are powered by the Holy Spirit. We cannot muster up hope, peace and joy on our own, all the time, whatever the circumstances may be. Pray for yourself that you would live out your life in the power of His Holy Spirit. Pray that you would experience real peace, joy and hope.

In the kingdom of hope there is no winter.

Russian Proverb