Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Aug 14, 2024 - Groaning in Hope”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsGroaning in Hope
Reading: Romans 8:18-25
As children of God, we stand to inherit with Christ—as long as we are willing to suffer with him. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us”(Rom 8:18). That hope of glory buoys us through the sufferings and difficulties of our present life. Something great is coming! It’s going to happen to me! “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God”(Rom 8:19). Paul speaks of inanimate creation longing for the consummation of God’s plan to redeem the bodies (Rom 8:23) of his sons. Alongside our glorification, there is some kind of hope for the creation: “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”(Rom 8:21). What this will look like is not spelled out here, but Paul hints that the coming age might not mean the end of the material creation.
This longing is described vividly as groaning. “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now”(Rom 8:22). Something great is coming! “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”(Rom 8:23). We also groan because we are awaiting a better body—one redeemed and free from the taint of death and decay that comes from sin. But our groaning is not merely complaining and frustration. It is groaning in hope because we are assured that something better is coming that is not worth comparing to our present sufferings.
Christians must do more than express discontent with the current state of things. We must groan in hope—renewing our belief that something better is coming, reminding ourselves of how glorious it will be, and steeling ourselves for the time in which we must wait.
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One Thing to Think About: Do I believe that the best is yet to come?
One Thing to Pray For: A spirit of hopeful groaning
