The Friday after the Second Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord
Posted on January 23, 2026 by under
Scripture: Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)
5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Devotion
“Hope” is a term that is misused these days. In Scripture, it is more than a wish that ‘things will get better eventually, because things are worse than we want them to be right now.’ In our reading for today, our hope is built on facts, truth, and promises that God has made to us. We hope to see heaven—not just because we wish to, but because God has promised it to us through the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our trust in this promise, which is our faith, is created and sustained by God’s Word and Sacraments. Through these God holds us close to Himself. This in fact is how God pours out his love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
It is because we have this confidence and trust that we can endure the unpleasant things and the tribulations that come with living in this sinful world. As Paul says later in his letter, “It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?” (Rom. 8:33-34). Thus, let us rejoice in our God and Savior, and trust that He will fulfill the promises He has made to us. This is our hope, that we too will see the glory of God.
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, Who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of Thy people, and grant us Thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
