How to live life as a Christian, Rejoicing in Hope

Just because you’re a Christian, it doesn’t mean you automatically have all the answers on how to live life. But we try our best by reading, praying, studying God’s word, and relying on the Holy Spirit. Even when we are doing all of that, we sometimes struggle to know what the right thing to do is. We can find help in Romans 12:12. This verse tells us what will help us through the good times and the hard times as we try to live life as a Christian. We need to rejoice in hope.

*Every Monday I will post another important aspect from scripture, on how God wants us to live life like a Christian. I will do this until we have covered the whole chapter.*

SCRIPTURE:

Romans 12:12

¹²Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

BEHAVIOR:

Rejoicing in Hope

WHAT AND HOW:

• What does it mean to be rejoicing in hope?
• How does rejoicing in hope help us live life as a Christian?

To understand what it means to be rejoicing in hope, lets start by break it down. First, what does rejoicing mean and secondly, what does hope mean?
Frist of all, rejoicing means to show excitement, celebrate, or showing praise. Secondly, hope means that we are looking forward to something that we can’t see. As a Christian our ultimate hope is in the unseen, Salvation and all that encompasses it! (Romans 8:24-25) When we put these two things together, Rejoicing in Hope, we are showing excitement for what we know will be coming but it can’t be seen it yet.

How does rejoicing in hope help us live life as a Christian? First of all it keeps us looking to the foundation of our faith by keeping us focused on why we are a Christian, because we are rejoicing in our salvation! Secondly, when we are going through a hard time, rejoicing in hope will keep us looking forward to the good that’s to come. When we focus on the good to come, hoping in what we can not see yet, it keeps us living life as a Christian instead of giving into our worldly desires.

COMING UP: Patient in tribulation

References:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

We hope you search our Free Bible Studies from Christian Fellowshipping for more encouraging ways to fellowship with God and other believes.

ROMANS 12

verses 1-2

​I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

verses 3-8

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

verses 9-16

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

verses 17-21

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.