In our third episode, in this week-long series on the marks of a true Christian, today we're going to explore together what it means to rejoice in hope.

In a world that can so often bring us down, so often appear to be without hope, today we have the opportunity to make room for God

to give us his perspective, that we might rejoice in his hope. May God give us wisdom, joy,

and eternal perspective today as we make space for him to fill. Welcome to the First 15 podcast.

Our scripture for today comes from Romans 1212.

Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer.

We are not promised a life without struggle here on earth.

In fact, the Bible makes clear that the world will hate us for our love of Jesus.

John 15, verse 18 through 19 says,

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But because you are not of the

world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Jesus even promises us

in John 1633, in the world you will have tribulation. Except John, each disciple was martyred for his faith in Christ, and John was exiled to the

prison island of Patmos for preaching that Jesus is God.

We live in an imperfect world, wrought with the destruction, sin, and separation from God

has caused.

You and I will face trials here as followers of Jesus.

In light of Jesus' promise of problems here on earth, it's interesting that Paul would write in

Romans 1212, rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Paul knew all too well the trials we as believers

can face in the world, but he wasn't about to let them affect his ability to rejoice in hope.

Along with promising us tribulation, Scripture speaks of the perspective we as believers are to have

in light of our restored relationship

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