I remain untitled

Peace and Joy

S: Romans 5:1-4

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

O: When I read this passage I thought about the idea that believers are at peace with God because they have been justified by faith. As a sinner, I am guilty. But justification takes away this guilt and is replaced by His peace through Jesus. This is the truth that believers hold on to — Jesus is the mediator between God and man and it is through faith in him that I am redeemed. I wasn’t born into a state of grace, I was brought into it and I couldn’t do it myself, I was led there. It is upon this truth that believers stand.

This is Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on part of this passage — Tribulation worketh patience, not in and of itself, but the powerful grace of God working in and with the tribulation. Patient sufferers have most of the Divine consolations, which abound as afflictions abound. It works needful experience of ourselves.

I guess the reason why I can rejoice in suffering is because I now have hope in something greater than myself. Through suffering I learn to persevere (maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement), which in turn leads to a change in character (the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing) and hope (the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best).

Maybe that’s why Jesus said,”If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”(Matthew 16:24) Jesus bore the cross. He suffered. He did it for you and me because he was hopeful that one day his prayer would be answered. He prayed that we would be one with the Father as he and the Father are one. What could be more painful than to deny oneself? The flesh dies and we suffer in order to be more like Christ. He didn’t need to change in character. He is perfect. I know I’m not (although sometimes I think I am). It is through suffering and Divine consolations that we become more like Jesus. We realize the frailty of life, the ugliness of humanity, and the grace and mercy of God. It is by turning away from what I think I know and understand—myself— that draws me closer to God and restores hope.

A: I suppose the things I can apply to life is 1) to remember what my faith is all about. God sent his son, Jesus, to die for my sin so that I could be justified through faith, 2) understand that I can rejoice in suffering, 3) and that by suffering I can be more like Christ (as long as that is my focus and not some self-help book). 

P: Father, please help me to choose to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow you daily. Help me to remember the truth and not be afraid of suffering.

In Jesus’ name, AMEN