Romans 8

"21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."

God's Spirit gives us faith which delivers us from the groanings of this world and gives us hope.

"Hope is not a strategy." I heard that for the first time a few years ago, and I really liked it. A farmer may hope for a great crop, but he doesn't wait for it to just happen. He does what he can at intervals to encourage the seed, planted at the right time, to grow through to full maturity into a harvest. God may provide elements the farmer cannot, but faith is a part of any enterprise. We hope, but we also make plans on our end to fulfill that hope.

Where does our hope come from? "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 121)

How do we access that hope as we wait in these earthly bodies? Paul writes further: "26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

As we pray, the Spirit searches our hearts, shapes our feeble words and groans and sighs, and delivers things in our own hearts too deep for own understanding. 

God, the great God Almighty (Isaish 44 - yesterday's devotion - 7.15.26), is so great that he not only gave us a plan for our salvation, he also gives us a method to access him on earth as his followers to provide us with what we need. He gives us his Word. He gives us our faith through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. He gives us his body and blood for forgiveness and strength through the sacrament of Holy Communion. He hears our prayers and knows exactly what we need when we don't even know how to say it. He searches our hearts (Psalm 139 fulfilled) and takes our own groanings to fulfill the hope we have in him.

That is a strategy.

Pray with me: Gracious God, you are a great God and know our hearts. You alone give me hope. You give me the means necessary to access that hope beyond words I can use as I pray. I pray your Spirit deliver my words to you and my thoughts, groans and sighs as well. In the end, your Will be done. In Christ's name, Amen. 

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.