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TriuneUnity
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Romans 5:1-5: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Happy Lent! In the name of Jesus. Amen. Happy suffering! Happy trials! Happy
not-having-enough-to-pay-your bills! Happy being-mocked-for-Jesus’-sake! Happy
heart problems! Happy cancer! Happy death!
Only in faith and by faith can you rejoice in your suffering. Only in faith can you
receive all things—even death—from the Lord’s hand as a gift. In Christ, in His
death and resurrection, you can rejoice in all things.
Sickness and death come from our sins. God did not intend them into the world.
He isn’t the author of evil. He created us perfect and in a perfect relationship with
Him.
But God is God and is quite capable of using these things to bring us to a closer
relationship with Him. God is such a big God and is in such control over the
universe that He can even use the devil’s greatest tricks to save you! Yet, when
you suffer the devil would have you respond by falling into despair. Where’s God?
What did you do to deserve this?
What St. Paul tells you today is that even these things are used by God to
produce something in you other than unbelief. Suffering produces endurance. As
you endure these terrible things, you cling less to what you can do and more and
more to what God has done for you. God is so Godly that He can even turn the
devil’s arrows into blessings for you.
His endurance produces character. As you endure these things, your character
changes how you carry yourself changes, your priorities change. You become less
centered on what’s about you and more concerned about how to look after
someone else.
Character produces hope. Certain hope, sure hope that God is going to save
you from everything—even death. Your body may die, but you will live eternally in
Christ. You are already alive in Christ. All death can do is make you finally be able
to see the truth of God’s goodness.
Now, don’t be crass about this. Don’t slap the person on the back who just had
something terrible happen to them and say, “Good for you! God must really love
you.” Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. And when
the terrible thing happens to you. When the devil turns his attention to see if he can
tempt you into unbelief, know this: God can use even the most terrible things to
bring you close to His Son.
You have peace with God through Jesus Christ. You have been justified,
forgiven, by His death. That alone gives you access to the Father. Have a happy
Lent and a Happy whatever-else-you-are-going through. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Happy Lent! In the name of Jesus. Amen. Happy suffering! Happy trials! Happy
not-having-enough-to-pay-your bills! Happy being-mocked-for-Jesus’-sake! Happy
heart problems! Happy cancer! Happy death!
Only in faith and by faith can you rejoice in your suffering. Only in faith can you
receive all things—even death—from the Lord’s hand as a gift. In Christ, in His
death and resurrection, you can rejoice in all things.
Sickness and death come from our sins. God did not intend them into the world.
He isn’t the author of evil. He created us perfect and in a perfect relationship with
Him.
But God is God and is quite capable of using these things to bring us to a closer
relationship with Him. God is such a big God and is in such control over the
universe that He can even use the devil’s greatest tricks to save you! Yet, when
you suffer the devil would have you respond by falling into despair. Where’s God?
What did you do to deserve this?
What St. Paul tells you today is that even these things are used by God to
produce something in you other than unbelief. Suffering produces endurance. As
you endure these terrible things, you cling less to what you can do and more and
more to what God has done for you. God is so Godly that He can even turn the
devil’s arrows into blessings for you.
His endurance produces character. As you endure these things, your character
changes how you carry yourself changes, your priorities change. You become less
centered on what’s about you and more concerned about how to look after
someone else.
Character produces hope. Certain hope, sure hope that God is going to save
you from everything—even death. Your body may die, but you will live eternally in
Christ. You are already alive in Christ. All death can do is make you finally be able
to see the truth of God’s goodness.
Now, don’t be crass about this. Don’t slap the person on the back who just had
something terrible happen to them and say, “Good for you! God must really love
you.” Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. And when
the terrible thing happens to you. When the devil turns his attention to see if he can
tempt you into unbelief, know this: God can use even the most terrible things to
bring you close to His Son.
You have peace with God through Jesus Christ. You have been justified,
forgiven, by His death. That alone gives you access to the Father. Have a happy
Lent and a Happy whatever-else-you-are-going through. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.