Daily Worship (May 31)
Devotional 1: Waiting with Hope
Romans 8:18–25 (NIV)
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Devotional Thought
Waiting is hard. We wait for problems to change. We wait for prayers to be answered. We wait for pain to end. We wait for people we love to come back to the Lord. Sometimes waiting can make us feel weak, tired, or forgotten. But Romans 8 teaches us that Christian waiting is not hopeless waiting. It is waiting with hope.
Paul says that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. That does not mean our suffering is small. Some suffering is very deep. Some grief lasts for years. Some burdens feel too heavy to carry. But Paul wants us to see that future glory in Christ is greater than present pain. The Lord is coming, and when he comes, he will make all things new.
This connects closely with James 5:7–20. James tells us to be patient until the Lord’s coming. Like a farmer waiting for the rain and the harvest, we wait for God’s timing. We do not always see what God is doing, but we can trust that he is at work. Genuine faith watches with patient hope.
Romans 8 also reminds us that all creation is groaning. The brokenness we feel is part of a much bigger problem. Sin has damaged the world. Our bodies get sick. Relationships break. People die. We feel sorrow, frustration, and weakness. But the gospel tells us that Jesus entered this broken world, suffered for our sins, died on the cross, and rose again. His resurrection is the firstfruits of the new creation. Because Jesus rose, everyone who belongs to him will also be raised.
So when you are suffering, do not give up. When you feel tired, do not lose heart. When life feels unfinished, remember that it is unfinished. God is not done. The Lord is near. The harvest is coming. Watch with hope, stand firm in faith, and wait for the day when Jesus makes everything right.
COMMA Questions
Prayer
Father, help us wait with hope. When we suffer, remind us that our pain is not the end of the story. Thank you that Jesus died and rose again, and that one day he will make all things new. Teach us to watch, stand firm, and trust your timing. In Jesus’ name, amen.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Devotional Thought
Waiting is hard. We wait for problems to change. We wait for prayers to be answered. We wait for pain to end. We wait for people we love to come back to the Lord. Sometimes waiting can make us feel weak, tired, or forgotten. But Romans 8 teaches us that Christian waiting is not hopeless waiting. It is waiting with hope.
Paul says that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. That does not mean our suffering is small. Some suffering is very deep. Some grief lasts for years. Some burdens feel too heavy to carry. But Paul wants us to see that future glory in Christ is greater than present pain. The Lord is coming, and when he comes, he will make all things new.
This connects closely with James 5:7–20. James tells us to be patient until the Lord’s coming. Like a farmer waiting for the rain and the harvest, we wait for God’s timing. We do not always see what God is doing, but we can trust that he is at work. Genuine faith watches with patient hope.
Romans 8 also reminds us that all creation is groaning. The brokenness we feel is part of a much bigger problem. Sin has damaged the world. Our bodies get sick. Relationships break. People die. We feel sorrow, frustration, and weakness. But the gospel tells us that Jesus entered this broken world, suffered for our sins, died on the cross, and rose again. His resurrection is the firstfruits of the new creation. Because Jesus rose, everyone who belongs to him will also be raised.
So when you are suffering, do not give up. When you feel tired, do not lose heart. When life feels unfinished, remember that it is unfinished. God is not done. The Lord is near. The harvest is coming. Watch with hope, stand firm in faith, and wait for the day when Jesus makes everything right.
COMMA Questions
- Context: How does Romans 8 as a whole help us understand suffering, hope, and life in the Spirit?
- Observation: What words or phrases in this passage show that believers are waiting for something future?
- Meaning: What does it mean that creation is “groaning,” and how does that help us understand our own suffering?
- Main Idea: How does this passage teach us to wait with hope while we suffer?
- Application: Where do you need to practice patient endurance as you wait for the Lord?
Prayer
Father, help us wait with hope. When we suffer, remind us that our pain is not the end of the story. Thank you that Jesus died and rose again, and that one day he will make all things new. Teach us to watch, stand firm, and trust your timing. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Devotional 2: Pray in Every Season
Philippians 4:4–7 (NIV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Devotional Thought
Life changes quickly. One day we may feel joyful and thankful. Another day we may feel worried, weak, or afraid. Sometimes we are troubled by problems we cannot fix. Sometimes we are anxious about the future. Sometimes we are carrying burdens that no one else can see. Philippians 4 teaches us what to do in every season: turn to the Lord in prayer.
Paul tells the church to rejoice in the Lord always. This does not mean Christians should pretend that life is easy. Paul wrote these words while he was in prison. He knew what suffering felt like. He knew what it meant to be treated unfairly. But Paul also knew that joy is not based on easy circumstances. Christian joy is rooted in the Lord. We can rejoice because Jesus is near, Jesus is faithful, and Jesus has secured our salvation.
This connects with James 5:13–20. James says, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” In other words, prayer is not only for emergencies. Praise is not only for church services. The whole Christian life is meant to be lived before God. When we are suffering, we pray. When we are cheerful, we praise. When we are weak, we ask for help. When we sin, we confess. Genuine faith is prayerful in every situation.
Philippians 4 also tells us not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation to bring our requests to God. This does not mean anxiety disappears instantly. It means we do not have to carry anxiety alone. We bring our fears, needs, and requests to our Father. We pray with thanksgiving because we remember what God has already done for us in Christ. At the cross, God gave us his Son. If he has given us Jesus, we can trust him with everything else.
The promise is not that God will always give us exactly what we ask for. The promise is that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Prayer may not change our circumstances right away, but prayer brings us near to the God who holds us. So pray when you are troubled. Praise when you are joyful. Ask when you are needy. Give thanks when you are anxious. The Lord is near.
COMMA Questions
Prayer
Father, thank you that we can come to you in every season of life. When we are anxious, teach us to pray. When we are joyful, teach us to praise. Thank you that Jesus has brought us near to you. Guard our hearts and minds with your peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Devotional Thought
Life changes quickly. One day we may feel joyful and thankful. Another day we may feel worried, weak, or afraid. Sometimes we are troubled by problems we cannot fix. Sometimes we are anxious about the future. Sometimes we are carrying burdens that no one else can see. Philippians 4 teaches us what to do in every season: turn to the Lord in prayer.
Paul tells the church to rejoice in the Lord always. This does not mean Christians should pretend that life is easy. Paul wrote these words while he was in prison. He knew what suffering felt like. He knew what it meant to be treated unfairly. But Paul also knew that joy is not based on easy circumstances. Christian joy is rooted in the Lord. We can rejoice because Jesus is near, Jesus is faithful, and Jesus has secured our salvation.
This connects with James 5:13–20. James says, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” In other words, prayer is not only for emergencies. Praise is not only for church services. The whole Christian life is meant to be lived before God. When we are suffering, we pray. When we are cheerful, we praise. When we are weak, we ask for help. When we sin, we confess. Genuine faith is prayerful in every situation.
Philippians 4 also tells us not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation to bring our requests to God. This does not mean anxiety disappears instantly. It means we do not have to carry anxiety alone. We bring our fears, needs, and requests to our Father. We pray with thanksgiving because we remember what God has already done for us in Christ. At the cross, God gave us his Son. If he has given us Jesus, we can trust him with everything else.
The promise is not that God will always give us exactly what we ask for. The promise is that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Prayer may not change our circumstances right away, but prayer brings us near to the God who holds us. So pray when you are troubled. Praise when you are joyful. Ask when you are needy. Give thanks when you are anxious. The Lord is near.
COMMA Questions
- Context: How does Paul’s situation in prison help us understand his command to rejoice and pray?
- Observation: What commands does Paul give in this passage?
- Meaning: What does it mean to bring our requests to God “with thanksgiving”?
- Main Idea: How does this passage teach us to respond to worry, trouble, and joy?
- Application: What is one burden, fear, or need you should bring to God in prayer today?
Prayer
Father, thank you that we can come to you in every season of life. When we are anxious, teach us to pray. When we are joyful, teach us to praise. Thank you that Jesus has brought us near to you. Guard our hearts and minds with your peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Devotional 3: Bringing Wanderers Home
Galatians 6:1–5 (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.
Devotional Thought
Sometimes Christians wander. They may wander into sin. They may drift from church. They may grow cold toward the Lord. They may become trapped in bitterness, pride, shame, or unbelief. When this happens, the church has a choice. We can ignore them. We can gossip about them. We can judge them harshly. Or we can go after them with gentleness and love.
Galatians 6 teaches us how to respond when someone is caught in sin. Paul says that those who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. The goal is not to embarrass them. The goal is not to prove that we are better. The goal is restoration. To restore means to help bring something broken back into place. This is the heart of gospel ministry.
This connects with the end of James 5. James says that if someone wanders from the truth and another person brings that sinner back, that person saves them from death and covers over a multitude of sins. James ends his letter by calling the church to pursue wandering people. Genuine faith does not only watch and pray for itself. Genuine faith watches and prays for others.
But Paul gives an important warning. When we restore someone else, we must watch ourselves. We are also weak. We are also sinners. We are also capable of falling. That means restoration must be done with humility. We do not come as saviors. Jesus is the Savior. We come as fellow sinners who have been rescued by grace.
The gospel gives us the pattern for this kind of love. Jesus came after us when we were wandering. He did not wait for us to clean ourselves up. He came into our brokenness. He carried our sins to the cross. He rose again to bring us home to God. Now he sends us to care for others with that same restoring love.
So look around. Is someone drifting? Is someone missing? Is someone caught in sin or buried in shame? Pray for them. Move toward them. Speak gently. Carry their burden. Point them back to Jesus. A prayerful church becomes a pursuing church.
COMMA Questions
Prayer
Father, thank you for coming after us when we wandered from you. Thank you that Jesus died and rose again to bring sinners home. Give us gentle hearts toward those who are struggling. Help us pray, pursue, and restore with humility and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.
Devotional Thought
Sometimes Christians wander. They may wander into sin. They may drift from church. They may grow cold toward the Lord. They may become trapped in bitterness, pride, shame, or unbelief. When this happens, the church has a choice. We can ignore them. We can gossip about them. We can judge them harshly. Or we can go after them with gentleness and love.
Galatians 6 teaches us how to respond when someone is caught in sin. Paul says that those who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. The goal is not to embarrass them. The goal is not to prove that we are better. The goal is restoration. To restore means to help bring something broken back into place. This is the heart of gospel ministry.
This connects with the end of James 5. James says that if someone wanders from the truth and another person brings that sinner back, that person saves them from death and covers over a multitude of sins. James ends his letter by calling the church to pursue wandering people. Genuine faith does not only watch and pray for itself. Genuine faith watches and prays for others.
But Paul gives an important warning. When we restore someone else, we must watch ourselves. We are also weak. We are also sinners. We are also capable of falling. That means restoration must be done with humility. We do not come as saviors. Jesus is the Savior. We come as fellow sinners who have been rescued by grace.
The gospel gives us the pattern for this kind of love. Jesus came after us when we were wandering. He did not wait for us to clean ourselves up. He came into our brokenness. He carried our sins to the cross. He rose again to bring us home to God. Now he sends us to care for others with that same restoring love.
So look around. Is someone drifting? Is someone missing? Is someone caught in sin or buried in shame? Pray for them. Move toward them. Speak gently. Carry their burden. Point them back to Jesus. A prayerful church becomes a pursuing church.
COMMA Questions
- Context: How does Galatians 6 fit with Paul’s teaching about life in the Spirit in Galatians 5?
- Observation: What does Paul say spiritually mature believers should do when someone is caught in sin?
- Meaning: What does it mean to restore someone gently?
- Main Idea: How should gospel grace shape the way we respond to someone who is wandering or caught in sin?
- Application: Who is one person you can pray for, encourage, or gently help turn back toward Jesus?
Prayer
Father, thank you for coming after us when we wandered from you. Thank you that Jesus died and rose again to bring sinners home. Give us gentle hearts toward those who are struggling. Help us pray, pursue, and restore with humility and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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