Daily Dose of Hope

March 20, 2026

Scripture: Romans 12

Prayer: Heavenly Father, We come to you today praising your holy name. You are a good God! Thank you for caring for us, for walking alongside us, but most of all thank you for Jesus, who died our death, so that we can walk hand in hand with you. Help us live like resurrection people in the way of Jesus. We don't want to get stuck in our religion. We want to live transformed lives in Jesus. How we need you, Lord. We are stubborn people. Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through Paul's letters. We are now in the book of Romans. Don't forget to let me know what you are learning. Offer feedback – let me know about your big takeaways.

Today, we read through Romans 12. Just so you know, Romans 12 is some of my very favorite New Testament Scripture! It is incredibly powerful. Paul is saying that because of this amazing gift of salvation, those who receive it should be truly committed to God. Christ-followers should dedicate their whole life in service to Jesus Christ, become living sacrifices.

This would have had significant meaning to Paul's audience, as the sacrificial system was still alive and well. But unlike the Old Testament sacrifices, Christ-followers voluntarily offer their living bodies, every part of their existence, to the work of Jesus in the world. They make Jesus not simply their savior but also their Lord. Doing this is the kind of worship that God finds right and pleasing. We might call this surrendering everything to King Jesus.

This clearly separates us from the surrounding culture. Living for Jesus rather than ourselves or things of this world is unusual. People notice. Paul urges the Romans to not fit so well into their culture but experience life change as Jesus transforms their thinking. Faith isn't just about the heart and emotions but also about the mind. God wants to change our way of thinking so that we better reflect Jesus. Do we fit into our culture? Be honest with yourself. Do your neighbors, coworkers, and other acquaintances know that you belong to Jesus? Is your thinking more influenced by Scripture and the things of God or the national news, politics, and social media? How easy it is to simply blend right into the culture around us. Paul's words to the Romans certainly ring true for us today.

Paul addresses several other concepts here too. He talks about spiritual gifts. Similar to the Corinthians, there is evidence the Romans also were arguing about which gifts were better. Paul makes it clear that all the gifts are critical. Plus, all believers belong to each other. The church cannot function without everyone and their various gifts. No one should be conceited – just keep in mind that by itself, your gift just isn't that great.

Finally, there is Paul's closing to the chapter. I just love this. He is talking about how to demonstrate love to other people. If we all simply took this to heart, what a different place our community would be! Paul emphasizes the Proverbs here, stating, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Let's be real, the church hasn't been so good at this. What would we as Jesus' church look like, what would we need to change, if we focused on not becoming overcome with evil but overcoming evil with good?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 19, 2026

Scripture: Romans 11

Prayer: Almighty God, we start by pausing before you. Help us set aside the distractions of the morning or the day and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us gather our scattered thoughts and think only of you...Help us be still and know you are God. God, we rejoice that we can freely read your Word and we are grateful that you speak through it to us. It's truly a miracle. Holy Spirit, we also invite you to join us as we seek to grow deeper in relationship with you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through Paul's letters. We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans. Don't forget to let me know what you are learning. Offer feedback – let me know about your big takeaways.

Today, our reading is Romans 11. Paul is stating that because Israel rejected the Gospel, the Gentiles had the opportunity to receive it. Interestingly, Paul says that the salvation of the Gentiles was meant to instill a desire in the Jews for the same amazing gift. But that didn't necessarily happen. At the same time, the Gentiles really didn't do anything to make the Jews jealous of this gift. Think about it, Gentile Christians throughout the centuries have had the opportunity to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with Jews, to demonstrate the abundant life that comes by walking closely with Jesus. While that may have happened occasionally, more often we see Jews treated with persecution, oppression, and violence.

Do you have any Jews in your sphere of influence or circle of friends? What are their thoughts of Jesus? Spend some time right now praying for their salvation and how God might be calling you to share the story of Jesus with them.

There are two other things I want to mention from the chapter. The first is this idea of being grafted in. Paul compares Israel to the natural branches of an olive tree and the Gentile believers as the branches of a wild olive tree. Some of the natural branches, the Jews, have broken off, but the wild branches, the Gentiles have been grafted in. Because of this, the Gentiles are now can receive God's promises and receive salvation. We are part of God's Kingdom, his family.

While the Gentiles have been grafted in, that doesn't mean that God is done with Israel. Paul is making a point that God's purposes won't be complete until Israel is grafted back into God's people. All people, Jews and Gentiles, were intended to share in the promises of Abraham and his seed. This is all part of God's full redemptive plan.

The last thing I wanted to mention was the doxology at the end of the chapter. When I first read the chapter, it seemed out of place. But upon further reflection, it makes sense. Paul is overcome by God's mercy and grace. He begins the doxology with a groan or sigh. Think about it - Paul has just gotten done discussing God's plan of salvation for all people and how this demonstrates God's goodness, mercy, and incredible wisdom. Paul is finding all of this so incredibly powerful and needs to stop his letter to simply write some words of worship before he moves on. He is overwhelmed with gratitude to God and worship seemed the most appropriate response.

When was the last time you were overwhelmed with gratitude or thanksgiving to God for what he has done? What is your response?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 18, 2026

Scripture: Romans 10

Prayer: Almighty God, We thank you for a new day and we praise your perfect name. We are grateful that your mercies are new every single morning. Help us see you in this day. Help us recognize your voice. Lord, help us reflect you today in our words. Help us reflect you in our behavior. Help us remember who and whose we are. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically. We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.

Today's reading is Romans 10. Romans 10 is packed with substance. There are two things that strike me in this chapter. First is Paul's discussion about the heart. He is making an argument that the law is not what makes someone righteous, but their belief in Jesus. He is speaking of a new circumcision, essentially, a circumcision of the heart. It isn't about what we do or what is done to us (in the case of a baby boy being circumcised), it is about our heart. Do we believe in Jesus? Do we love Jesus? Have we made a commitment in our heart to Jesus Christ?

Keep in mind this was a total 180 degrees from what the Jews knew and believed. I think sometimes we are pretty hard on the Jews. Why don't they just believe? Well, this was really different from everything they had been taught about being right with God. Paul seems to get this struggle and it frames his arguments with Hebrew people. He is anguished that they don't believe. While it is a huge shift, he knows how much better life is when Christ is at the center. As we can all imagine, the law (works) is a terrible thing to build your life around because you are never good enough. On the other hand, with Jesus, he has declared us good enough because of his saving work on the cross, not because of anything we have done or haven't done. This totally levels the playing field, as Paul expresses in verse 12. It doesn't matter if one is Jew or Greek for all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is great news, everyone!

The other piece that made an impression on me this morning was Paul's emphasis on sharing the good news. Starting with verse 14, he writes, How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" And that is still the case today, isn't it? How can anyone know if they have never heard? I think we make the assumption that most people around us, like neighbors, coworkers, golf buddies, and gym friends, know about Jesus. Often, people have a vague idea about Jesus or even an incorrect view of Jesus. Yet, they must know and profess Jesus to be saved. I've also learned that some people, especially younger ones, truly have no idea what it means to believe in Jesus Christ.

Friends, the harvest is tremendous but the workers are few. How can they believe if they have not heard?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 17, 2026

Scripture: Romans 9

Prayer: King Jesus, We come to you today with praise and lifting your name high. You are a Lord of love, mercy, and forgiveness. Thank you so much for allowing us to experience those things in you. Also, Lord, thank you for showing us a new way of doing life. The ways of this world are empty and temporal but your ways are eternal and fulfilling. Help us be bold in our faith, staying strong in the midst of whatever challenges we face. Help us live like the people you have called us to be. We love you. Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically. We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.

Today's reading is Romans 9. One thing that is evident to me in the beginning is Paul's anguish for his people. He is heart-broken for his Jewish brothers and sisters who have rejected Jesus. I kind of picture him on his hands and knees praying for softened hearts. And then I thought about how we should probably all be doing that. How many people do I know, do you know, who don't have a saving relationship with Jesus? Why aren't we on our hands and knees praying for their hearts to be softened and more open to the Gospel? And how many of our brothers and sisters in the church are focusing on the wrong thing – religion instead of Jesus? This also drives me to prayer. Just a thought.

One other aspect of this chapter that kind of hit me is Paul's warning. It appears that he is warning Christians to be careful. Afterall, the Jews began to think that their connection was God was simply a right. That they would be accepted because of their Jewish blood. I can't help but think this is a warning to all of us – don't get too comfortable. None of us have a right to be here. We have a relationship with God and we have salvation because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. We did nothing to earn it and we don't deserve it. I worry that at times, in the church, we might fall into the same trap that the Jews fell into, thinking we are superior or have some kind of right to be here because we have "been in church" so long. In doing so, there is the possibility, just maybe, that we might look down our nose at others and not extend grace and mercy like we are called to do. Paul's warning is real, my friends.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 16, 2026

Scripture: Romans 8

Prayer: Almighty God, We come before you this morning with awe and humility. Help us remember all you have done for us. We are nothing without you. We need you desperately, Lord. Help us gather our scattered thoughts today as we focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us remember that we belong to you. Help us lay our worries and cares on the throne of your grace...We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically. We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.

Today's reading is Romans 8. There is so much substance in this one chapter. Overall, Paul is telling us to live by the Spirit and he is encouraging us because no matter what, God's love prevails. I'm going to touch on a few of the main points.

The first part of the chapter details how we need to live according to the Spirit. Yes, we are human beings, so we have a sinful nature, but that doesn't mean we have to live according to that sinful nature. Paul says that once we accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit indwells us, meaning the Spirit can guide us, convict us, and direct us. In fact, we are only living in true freedom if we are allowing the Spirit to guide us. Being led by the sinful nature is just another form of bondage and that leads to death. When we live by the Spirit, we know that we are children of God, we have the assurance of salvation and new life in Christ.

In the next part of the chapter, Paul focuses on our present sufferings. Keep in mind, the church at the time was enduring tremendous persecution. It wasn't easy following Jesus in the Roman world. But Paul says these sufferings are nothing compared to the future glory that they will experience. These present hardships will not last. Eternity with Jesus, on the other hand, will last forever. He is encouraging them to stay the course, hold on, because it will get so much better. In fact, he says something quite extraordinary: All of these difficulties and challenges will actually be used by God in some way to bring him glory, to extend the purposes of his Kingdom. That doesn't mean they won't be painful or really, really hard, but God won't let anything go to waste.

One part that I just love is when Paul speaks about all creation groaning for all things to be made right again. Ever since the fall, God has been putting things in place to make things right, to basically reverse the effects of the fall. Not only do we as human beings look forward to when death, suffering, and pain, are no longer part of our world, but so does all of creation. I can't help thinking about that line in the praise song, So Will I, when Hillsong sings, "If the rocks cry out in reverence, so will I." Y'all, even the rocks are yearning for God to make things right again, once and for all.

Paul also speaks about how the Spirit intercedes for us. I love this. When things are really, really bad, when we don't have words or don't have the strength to say the words, we can trust that the Spirit of the living God is interceding for us at the throne of grace with words we can't understand.

Have there been times in your life in which you just didn't have the ability to pray? Maybe you were incapacitated or so distressed that the words couldn't come out. I know I've had times in which all I can do is cry out, "Jesus!" And I know, I trust, that the Holy Spirit understands and is working on my behalf. How cool is that? What a mighty God we serve.

But I can't finish this devotional without talking about the last part of the chapter. Paul gives us this beautiful picture of God's love and how nothing at all can ever separate us from it. I use this Scripture quite often in funerals, especially when the person has died under difficult circumstances. I find it so hopeful that if that individual believed in Jesus, that nothing can separate them from God's love. It very clearly says that death cannot separate from God's love, even difficult, painful deaths like drug overdoses and suicide.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 13, 2026

Scripture: Romans 7

Prayer: Almighty God, We are in awe of you. You are all-powerful and all-knowing. You are the one who was, and is, and is to come. We give you all the glory and praise. We rejoice that you, the one who created all things, also cares so deeply for us. We are overwhelmed by your love and grace, which you offer freely even when we mess up. Thank you so much, Lord. As we think about our day to come, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...Oh Lord, how we need you. We pray this in your powerful name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically. We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.

Today's reading is Romans 7. This chapter describes our relationship to the law. The law demonstrates how sinful we truly are. We continually fail to follow the law, God's people throughout history have continually failed to follow the law, despite their best attempts. The law exposes how vulnerable we all are to sin; it is like holding up a mirror. It shows us our frailties and brokenness. Paul mentions coveting. The law tells him not to covet but that just makes him want to covet.

Keep in mind, this does not mean the law is bad. It just shows how weak we happen to be. On our own (that is, without Jesus), we will continue to mess up and do those things that we really don't want to do. But in Jesus, we are new people. We have the Holy Spirit living within us. That doesn't mean we won't mess up – we are still human. But (and Paul will address this more in the next chapter) we have the ability to resist temptation and live for Jesus. Again, none of this is because of us but because of who lives in us.

How often have we done something that we know is wrong even though we didn't want to? That's our sinful nature. Paul says that he does what he hates and doesn't do what he knows is right. This is a problem we all face! None of us are immune. But as we grow in our walk with Jesus, I'm hoping we begin to resist that nature and lean into what we know is right.

What has been your experience with this? How do you struggle with sin? And how have you seen your thoughts and behavior change as you have grown in your Christian walk?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 12, 2026

Scripture: Romans 6

Prayer: Almighty God and Risen Lord, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, We come before you today with praise and a sense of awe. You are amazing. You offer new life. And yet, we still struggle to keep focus on you. Help us gather our scattered and distracted thoughts. Help us take a moment of silence and remember who you are...Holy Spirit, speak to us today. We want to hear your voice. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically. We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.

Today's reading is Romans 6. In this chapter, Paul discusses why we should no longer sin once we have become believers of Jesus. In the previous chapters, he has talked about how we are no longer under the law. That's true. We are saved and our sins are forgiven. That's also true. But that doesn't mean we should start acting like fools. Rather, the standard is higher.

Paul also considers sin to be an enslaving power. I'm not sure we really think about it that way. I typically think of sin as brokenness or a separation between myself and God. But Paul sees it as something much deeper – it's a power that is actually fighting for control of all creation.

Humans are enslaved to sin. And slaves don't typically have any control over their bodies. They are forced into labor, they are punished at will, and they can be assaulted without any kind of recourse. To be enslaved is to have every part of you controlled by another. If humans are enslaved to sin, then the only thing that has mastery over this slavery is Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.

Paul explains that when someone accepts Jesus, they experience a spiritual death to sin. They then also experience a rebirth. They become new people in Jesus. As new people in Jesus, we are no longer slaves to sin, as our old selves were crucified. Sin is no longer our master. It no longer has the same hold on us. That being said, we still have a daily choice to make. We are still human and sin is still tempting. But we make a choice to live righteously.

Think about your own temptations. What daily choices do you make because you now live for Jesus? How have your own daily choices changed as you have grown in your walk with Jesus Christ?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 11, 2026

Scripture: Romans 5

Prayer: Holy God, How amazing it is that we can come before you today. You are God of all things, Lord of everything, and yet you care about each of us. We give you glory and praise. We thank you most of all for Jesus, who made it possible for us to walk hand in hand with a holy God. Help us see today's Scripture through fresh eyes. Keep teaching us, Lord. Continue to reveal yourself to us. We are open and grateful. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically. We are now in our sixth pastoral letter, the book of Romans.

Today's reading is Romans 5. In this chapter, Paul explores the origin of sin in a unique way. He speaks of Adam, through which sin entered the world. If you are familiar with the study of the spread of disease (called epidemiology), then you have probably heard of patient zero. Patient zero is the first person who brings a specific disease into an area. To find this person, the epidemiologists trace the outbreak through all sorts of people, interviewing, contact tracing, digging, and digging some more to find out where the disease began.

Adam was patient zero for sin. It was through Adam that sin came into play. After that, all humans were "infected" with sin. There was no way not to be infected. The world was no longer a lovely, perfect place like the Garden of Eden. The world was now broken, filled with hardship, disease, and death.

But if Adam brought us sin and death, Jesus brings us life. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. Through Jesus, we can be reconciled to a holy God. We can do life, walking hand in hand with God–no walls, no barriers, and no shame. Jesus has removed anything preventing us from accessing God. You see, when he died on the cross, the blood of Jesus atoned for the sins of all humanity for all time. He cleansed us from sin and gave us his righteousness.

What is righteousness? That's a word that Paul uses an awful lot. Righteousness is the quality of being morally right, virtuous, and just. Jesus is totally righteous and we aren't! But through the cross, in the act of cleansing us from sin, Jesus imputed (gave) his righteousness to us. We are made righteous by Jesus. Now, God doesn't see our messed up, broken lives–he sees that which Jesus has freely gifted us. In Jesus, we are saved and made righteous. And as Jesus continues to work within us, let's hope that the righteousness of Jesus really takes root in a different way. As we seek to grow closer to Jesus, may the righteousness, the virtuousness, the justice, and the love of Christ grow within us and make us better reflections of him.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 10, 2026

Scripture: Romans 4

Prayer: Almighty Father, You always know what is best for us. Thank you for that. We are sorry for the ways that we resist. Help us to want what you want for us. Help us to want to be patient, to want to be kind, to want to be obedient. Conform our will, Lord, In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through Paul's letters chronologically. Just for review, we have read Galatians, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Corinthians, and now we are in Romans.

Today's reading is Romans 4. This is an interesting chapter. Paul clearly wants his Jewish listeners to know that justification by faith is not a new concept, but there is actually a precedent in the Old Testament. Likewise, he wants his Gentile listeners to know that they have a rich spiritual heritage when they believe in Jesus, as the Old Testament attests to this salvation. Paul highlights Abraham and David, two great men of faith, to demonstrate that even under the old covenant, people were saved by faith rather than by works.

Paul discusses Abraham's faith. Abraham believed, against all hope and even though it was a crazy thought, that he would become a father in his old age and even become the father of many nations. Sarah was something like 100 years old. This was not a reasonable thing to believe! Despite some mishaps along the way (think Hagar and Ishmael), Abraham had faith that God would do what God said he would do. It was Abraham's faith, rather than his adherence to the law (works), that God credited him as righteous.

It is also our faith, specifically our faith in Jesus Christ and belief that he died for our sins and was resurrected, that God credits us as righteous. To be righteous means to be in right standing with God. Let's be clear. We are not righteous at all on our own merit. Rather, because of Jesus, we are credited as righteous. We essentially get to hang on Jesus' righteousness coattails, and I am so very glad for it!

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

March 9, 2026

Scripture: Romans 3

Prayer: Everlasting Father, We thank you that you are a God of hope. You are a God who keeps his promises. You are a God who always has our best interest in mind. Forgive us for those times that we want things to go the way we want things to go. Fill us with your wisdom and discernment. Help us try to think about things from a more eternal perspective. How difficult that is for us! Lord, we submit to you our lives, our families, our jobs, our burdens, our physical bodies. We give them to you and we trust you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading. My prayer for each of you is that as we move through this season of Lent, you will make plenty of time to read, interpret, and pray over the Scripture. What is God teaching you through Paul's letters? We have now reached Romans, which I think is fascinating but one of the most difficult of Paul's letters to understand. I would love to hear your thoughts. What is God teaching you? What are you gleaning?

Today's reading is Romans 3. Paul continues to discuss the sinfulness of human beings. No one is righteous, no matter one's religious upbringing (Jew vs. non-Jew), occupation, or station in life; every single person is a sinner. It sounds a bit hopeless but Paul is leading up to something very important. Yes, all people are sinners and all people fall short of God's standard BUT we can be saved through the gift of grace that comes with believing in Jesus Christ. It's pretty incredible really. We are all a broken mess. We are born inclined to sin and this sinfulness creates a barrier between God and us. But Jesus' sacrifice on the cross atoned for our sins.

What in the world does that mean? When Jesus died on the cross, our sins and the sins of all humanity died up there with him. If you think back to the Old Testament sacrificial system, the priests would sacrifice animals to atone for the sins of the people and the community. And the people could not sacrifice their sick and lame animals, only the strong, healthy ones. They needed to feel the sacrifice. And then, the animal's blood was shed to demonstrate that sin has consequences. It wasn't pretty at all but it wasn't supposed to be. Now, Jesus is the final, perfect sacrifice. It was his blood that was shed to atone for the sins of all people, for all time.

Let's go just a little deeper here. As God himself, Jesus was holy and totally without sin. He gave his life to be the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. His death on the cross created a bridge between God and us. No more barrier. If we have said yes to Jesus, then when God looks at us, he doesn't see our sinfulness but rather Jesus' sacrifice. The blood of Jesus essentially covers us or atones for us.

Now, because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are free to walk hand in hand with a holy God. And we did nothing to earn this or deserve it. As Paul writes, it was a gift of grace. Grace is God's unmerited, amazing love that is freely given to all those who believe.

How have you experienced God's grace?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki