Mid-Week Message/Devotion
May 23, 2018
Romans 8:22-27
Where is the Treasure?
When times are tough, and we seem to struggle just to survive, having dreams of some kind of windfall are a common aspect of our psyche, aren’t they? Be honest with yourself. Just take a look at American history. Multitudes thronged to the California foothills as rumors of endless veins of gold ore were waiting and there for the picking and panning. Likewise, the very same thing happened in the Yukon Territory.
And in those days, claiming and settling on land via government grants gave hope of a better life. Those that suffered more in the quest for a better life outnumbered those who did in fact gain wealth and stability.
The same thing occurs even today in the form of Mega Bucks, Lotto and Power Ball, not to mention gambling casinos.
The risk of losing more and gaining less is without a doubt, greater than any odds of winning significantly.
The reading says to us: “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” (Verse 22) What have we got to groan about? I tell you- PLENTY! That plenty is all a result of abuse by the very creation that God put on this planet to thrive and be fruitful. Greed based wars, destruction of rain forests and pollution of waters all in the name of progress and that better life; corrupt governments that place heavy tax burdens upon the masses and use that wealth to maintain a dominance and power over the very ones who finance them.
Enough gloom and doom. “We were saved in this hope….” (verse 24) What do you think Paul is trying to tell us when he says, if we see that hope it is no longer hope. Then he asks, why would we hope for what we see. Finally, Paul makes the point that in hoping for what we do not see, has us waiting eagerly and with perseverance.
How often do we actually bemoan the loss of the Garden of Eden? Have you ever given thought to that garden as being a “gift” to all of God’s creation? Adam and Eve were the original caretakers and they blew it for the rest of us. Adam and Eve are certainly representative of God’s creation – that would be us folks. We have done the very same thing to our environment throughout history.
Returning to Paul’s epistle to the Romans, we delve in and find that he reminds us of the hope we have in the Holy Spirit. We can get so caught up in this world that we don’t even know how to pray anymore. God knows that and that is exactly why Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit to His disciples and to us. When we don’t know what to pray for or how to pray, we can call on the Holy Spirit to intercede for us. God knows our hearts and our agonies. Therefore, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints (that would be you and me included) knowing our hearts and responds according to the will of God. (verse 27)
We can’t see the Holy Spirit and we can’t see or even totally understand how that intercession works. What we can do is understand that there is HOPE in the intercession of the Holy Spirit and knowing that He prays for us in the will of God and for the will of God. What more could we possibly HOPE for?
We must assume an element of hope in order to find peace in desperate times. Jesus did!
He did? Yes, He did!
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.” John 12:27
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42
Just knowing and accepting that our circumstances are in God’s will gives us hope and peace. We can know that in praying that the Holy Spirit will intercede for us, because we just don’t know how to pray sometimes.
The Holy Spirit is our hope (treasure).
Let us pray now-
