2/12 Reading Portions: Genesis 45; Mark 15; Job 11; Romans 15
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
REMINDER
This wonderful benediction by the apostle is also a needful reminder. Because of the corruptions remaining in our mortal flesh, we are robbed of joy. We mull over how petty we sometimes are, as well as how temptations at times overtake us. We forget the precious gift of the atonement when the darkness of this wicked world closes in on us. Yet Christ Jesus has not left us nor has He forsaken us. His voice alarms like a trumpet behind us as He speaks through the apostle in the pages of Scripture to bless us with the truth that He is the God of hope; who came to live and die so that His joy may be in us, so that our joy may be full (John 15:11). What is the Lord’s joy? It is everything that comes by way of His atoning Sacrifice:
…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Jesus despised the shame of sin so passionately and rejoiced in the blessings resulting from His sufferings and death so thoroughly that His name is exalted above every name (Phil 2:9-11). Although good works should come forth from our lives, we tend to be disappointed, even depressed, when those works fall short. Yet it is not the works of our hands or the deeds of our intent we should have our eyes upon. It is upon Christ and His work, and steadfastly believing in what He has done. When our eyes are fixed upon Him and our minds filled with His work, our ears are supernaturally opened to the voice of the Lord, who reminds us of His joy which fills us with the peace of God… because, by God’s grace, we believe. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Oh, what joy to believe in Christ,
Who bled and died for me!
He took our place and paid sin’s price
Upon a cursed tree.
