9-23-13 “The Ultimate Trial”
Romans 5:3-4
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
We can rejoice too... In the two verses before this one, Paul is expressing the reason for our great joy: Since we have been made right with God through faith, we have peace with God. We’ve received an underserved privilege, and we have confident hope for all the wonderful things to come. (Romans 5:1-2) So, because of these truths it doesn’t matter if life is rosy or we have problems. Either case doesn’t change the facts from verses 1 and 2. We are safe from the scariest thing of all... unforgiven sin and certain death... because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Then Paul goes on to explain a behind the scenes look at problems and trials and the real results they produce regardless of their momentary uncomfortable byproducts. Trials help us develop endurance. If I go jogging every morning and quit the moment I get a little winded each time, I will never get passed my block, right? Endurance develops when we pass our level of comfort and security. And it’s ok.
Endurance develops strength of character. How many movies, books, or news articles have been written about a child actor or famous person whose life is made comfortable for them so they will continue to do what they do or be like they are? The character they lack is due to everything being handed to them freely. It’s so ironic how many of the famous and the wealthy, who want for nothing and “have it made,” ruin their own lives by their own vices; they have no character.
And character strengthens our confident hope... The only people who have hope in stories and in the news are the people who have been through a trial or two. They know there is another side to it by experience.
And because God generously sees us through our trials we can be confident about our ultimate trial - death. That’s the one thing we can’t look back on with previous experience. But I know that the trials and problems that pop up on the road of life just paves the way to the certainty that we have been made right with God...because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us!
Dear God,
I love being certain! I love people with strength of character and hope! I love being one of those people. Thank you that trials and problems do not come up in life for no reason. Help me to see them as constant opportunities to make my faith in you bigger. I love you so much and I just can’t thank you enough for what Jesus has done for us. Amen!
Romans 5:3-4
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
We can rejoice too... In the two verses before this one, Paul is expressing the reason for our great joy: Since we have been made right with God through faith, we have peace with God. We’ve received an underserved privilege, and we have confident hope for all the wonderful things to come. (Romans 5:1-2) So, because of these truths it doesn’t matter if life is rosy or we have problems. Either case doesn’t change the facts from verses 1 and 2. We are safe from the scariest thing of all... unforgiven sin and certain death... because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Then Paul goes on to explain a behind the scenes look at problems and trials and the real results they produce regardless of their momentary uncomfortable byproducts. Trials help us develop endurance. If I go jogging every morning and quit the moment I get a little winded each time, I will never get passed my block, right? Endurance develops when we pass our level of comfort and security. And it’s ok.
Endurance develops strength of character. How many movies, books, or news articles have been written about a child actor or famous person whose life is made comfortable for them so they will continue to do what they do or be like they are? The character they lack is due to everything being handed to them freely. It’s so ironic how many of the famous and the wealthy, who want for nothing and “have it made,” ruin their own lives by their own vices; they have no character.
And character strengthens our confident hope... The only people who have hope in stories and in the news are the people who have been through a trial or two. They know there is another side to it by experience.
And because God generously sees us through our trials we can be confident about our ultimate trial - death. That’s the one thing we can’t look back on with previous experience. But I know that the trials and problems that pop up on the road of life just paves the way to the certainty that we have been made right with God...because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us!
Dear God,
I love being certain! I love people with strength of character and hope! I love being one of those people. Thank you that trials and problems do not come up in life for no reason. Help me to see them as constant opportunities to make my faith in you bigger. I love you so much and I just can’t thank you enough for what Jesus has done for us. Amen!
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