Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Nearly every day I go to 7-11 and get a large fat-free french vanilla cappuccino. It's my standard. The directions on the machine say to hold the button down until the cup is 3/4 full, but I've never been very good at following directions. I have it down to a science (or at least I think I do.) I keep depressing that button until the coffee is only about a half inch from the top of the cup. Then I watch it slow down to a dribble until it just about overflows out of the cup. If I time it right, it goes to the brim of the cup and stops; however, there are times that I hold the button down a bit too long, and it overflows. Although I always hope no one ever sees me make the mess, I never mind when the coffee does actually overflow. That means I am getting the maximum amount of coffee for my money. Overflowing is good in my book!
In this verse, Paul refers to God as the "God of hope." When commenting on this verse, Martin Luther said:
"He that depends on the true God has laid all tangible things aside and lives by naked hope. To call God 'the God of hope' is therefore the same as to call him the God of hopers. He certainly is not the God but the enemy of people who despair easily and are unable to trust anyone. In short, he is the “god of hope” because he is the Giver of hope..."
Then the verse gives a pre-requisite. It says "as we trust Him" we will have joy and peace. So, if we trust in the God of hope and giver of hope, the natural bi-product is joy and peace. But the cool thing is that we don't just have a little joy and peace - the more I trust Him, the more I am FILLED with joy and peace. Then, the more I will overflow with hope myself -- by the power of His Holy Spirit who lives in me. It's like my desire for the cappuccino at 7-11. I want more and more, until it overflows. I want as much of God as I can get, and in that respect, I know God doesn't mind my indulgence!
It's an awesome circle. Trust in the God of hope, the giver of hope...be filled with joy and peace...overflow with hope, because of the Holy Spirit, who is the God of Hope!
As I memorize this verse this week, I'm asking God to keep my focus and hope in Him. As the week gets busy taking care of passengers stuck in Africa by the floating volcanic ash or whatever the urgent need of the day is, I must not go on auto-pilot with God. As I struggle to juggle, I need to remember I can do nothing, except with His strength and help. I'm asking God to help me trust Him more--in the big and little things, so I am full of joy and peace. And finally, I'm asking Him to fill me until I'm dribbling over with hope...so others can see Him in me. I want God to have the maximum amount of me He can have.
Don't just fill me to the rim, Lord, make me overflow!
---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com