Hope - Tribulation - Prayer

Hope, Tribulation, Prayer  

Romans 12:10-13

We are continuing in our study in the book of Romans chapter 12. We looked at verse 9 and examined what love is and what hypocrisy is.   We saw that love is biblically described in terms of activities, actions, unlike the common view in the world today as a feeling.   We saw that hypocrisy was in direct opposition to love. I would like us to now read Romans 12:10-13 – “10. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11. not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12. rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13. distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” 

The apostle says; “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.”  Three phrases.  These three phrases are part of a series of admonitions.   These three phrases contain words that often occur in scripture, rejoice, hope, patience, tribulation, steadfastness, and prayer.   There is a lesson in each one of these words; of what rejoicing means, what hope is and what patience is, what tribulation means to us.

In the larger context of Romans chapter 12 these three commands are vital ingredients to a spiritual life.   To develop spirituality, we need to know how we obey these commandments and what they mean to us in our spiritual growth.