Friday - Joyful in hope

Romans 12:  9-13    Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil;  cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honour one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.    Share with God’s  people who are in need.   Practice hospitality.

 Joyful in hope.  What a great phrase to keep before one's  day.   No matter what our day looks like,  to repeat to ourselves the phrase "joyful in hope"  creates positive thoughts when we have a tendency to sometimes think negatively.     Patient in affliction.  Oh boy.   This is a tough one.   When we are feeling ill or recovering from illness,  sometimes we get cranky that we aren't healing as quickly or as whole-ly as we think we should.   Now healing from illness isn't the affliction that Paul was talking about but it certainly reflects upon healing from illness.     Always share with those who are in need.  This means  keeping those who are afflicted and live without hope and joy in your prayers.  This means giving warm mittens and toques to those who have none.  This means  inviting people over for a bowl of soup who are living with mounting frustrations and sadness.    Practice hospitality.   No matter who comes to your door or speaks to you on the phone or e-mails you,  practice hospitality.   Hospitality is more than opening your home up to your family and friends.  Hospitality today includes your family and friends and community and who ever is in contact with you.    Hospitality means praying for your guest,  giving food to nourish their bodies,  making sure that your guest is better off than when they arrived on your doorstep/e-mail.    

This weekend, how will you work on being joyful in hope…. Patient in affliction… faithful in prayer… share with those who are in need… and practice hospitality?

 

Prayer:  Redeemer God,  provide for me the gifts to serve others in joyful hope and hospitality so that when evening comes,  You delight in my work and my prayers.   Amen.