I haven’t watched television since 1994. I used to listen to the news on the radio and read the newspaper headlines until my cancer returned with a vengeance in 2015. After that, I decided I didn’t want to focus on all that was going wrong in this sinful world, especially since I could do nothing about it anyway.

If we listen to the daily news, it can make us feel hopeless — if our focus is on the things of this world. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has inspired (breathed) a precious book we call the Bible. It contains the redemption story of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was God, he became flesh so he might fulfill God’s promise to save humankind from their sins. This he did by sacrificing himself on the cross for our sins and rising to eternal life to demonstrate that death no longer has power over us. We now have the hope that we can live forever with him in heaven! What good news!

Christians never have to feel hopeless — no matter what is happening in their lives or on the news. The Holy Spirit has made sure the Bible will help us abound in hope through the power of the Gospel (or good news) about Jesus. All we have to do is read what the Spirit has written! “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his Word I hope” (Psalm 130:5).

Dear God of hope, thank you for the gift you have given us through your Word inspired by the power of the Holy Spirit. May we treasure this gift and not take it for granted so we may abound day by day in hope. Amen.

Go Deeper — Today, be conscious of the effect the news has on you. Does it affect your mood in a negative way or spur you to pray?



Tags: Holy Spirit Romans 15
Photo Credit: Joshua Earle