“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.” Romans 5:2 ESV
Today we start Romans 5!
Hope is the confident expectation of good.
Glory is the sum of all God’s characteristics. It is all of His perfections or excellence.
When we come to know God for who He is and all of His greatness, we know that we will experience good from Him. No matter what our circumstances are we know God is at work for our good. This is because He is completely good and He is completely love. All this love and goodness is poured out upon us.
When life is hard, we have reason to rejoice! Because whatever hardship that God has allowed into our lives is working in us perseverance, character, and hope. More than all of this, we will experience God’s love, which is defined as His will to good for us!
When we trust God in impossible circumstances, we will find out that He is faithful! He never leaves us or abandons us. Each and every circumstance will deepen our understanding of God and grow our relationship with Him, if we will determine that our eyes will be fixed on Him.
We will “rejoice in hope!” We have hope that He is working here and now on our behalf. Romans 8:28 says He is working all things for our good.
We also have hope that when all is said and done, we will experience the ultimate good, eternity with Him!
(Join me in reading chapter 1 of James each day this week)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 NIV
Nothing is wasted in our lives. Trials and testing of our faith helps us to mature. In fact, it is what God uses to make us “complete, not lacking anything.”
Perseverance in the Greek is defined as “Endurance, steadfastness, patient waiting for, cheerful endurance, constancy.”
My youngest son has spent quite a bit of time at the gym working on body building. He has told me that building muscle actually requires tearing of muscle fibers that is rebuilt by our bodies in a stronger form. Our spiritual muscles are similar. Testing of our faith through trials can produce a cheerful endurance because we know the end result will be a closer relationship with Jesus.
If you are going through a trial, God is always at work in it! You and I are meant to “consider it pure joy!” In the end our relationship with God will be stronger! Trials build “spiritual muscle” that we all need in order to “not {be} lacking anything.”
Paul sails to Rome, but along the way his ship ends up in a terrible storm and the lives of those aboard are in peril. Those aboard the ship “gave up all hope of being saved.”But God continues to speak to Paul about the situation. Paul told those aboard the ship with him:
“For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’” Acts 27:23-24 ESV
What God spoke to Paul eventually came to pass. The ship was dashed to pieces on rocks, but everyone on the ship survived.
This story may seem like a horrible detour, unfair to a man that desired to live his life only for Jesus. But, God had a purpose in it!
We go through things we do not understand, hardships… As we have yielded our lives to the Holy Spirit and trust God, we will see that God does work all things out for our good and for His glory.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
James 1:2-3 NIV
“Trials.” In the past, this word would set off anxious feelings within me. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been a big fan of trials or adversity of any kind. However, they seem to be rather abundant. Recently, I found myself in a trial that was putting my faith in God to the test. Typically, my reaction to a trial is to run and hide; but this time was different. When I heard the foreboding words of trouble ahead it occurred to me that I had a choice to make. The choice was to respond in fear and anxiety or to stand firm in the faith. In fact, I heard God speak these words, “Janet, are you going to trust Me or not?” It was at that moment I prayed this prayer, “I am going to believe in You, God. I will trust You with all my heart. I will walk in faith.” Suddenly, everything changed inside of me. Peace came. As I continued to walk in faith through the situation, God revealed Himself once again to be faithful, sovereign or in control, loving, good, and trustworthy.
I have been experiencing the truth of our verses this week, “the testing of your faith produces perseverance (steadfastness).”
Our verses this month have focused on the word “steadfast.” The definition of steadfast is to have firmness of mind or purpose, to be constant in pursuing a purpose, unwavering, fixed, and steady. We are told in our verses this week that we are to “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds…” To have joy in the midst of trials/adversity sounds totally ridiculous and impossible, doesn’t it? James is not telling us that joy is in the difficult circumstances/situations themselves. He is saying that true joy comes because we know that the testing of our faith produces in us steadfastness/perseverance.
When we come up against a trial, we come to a choice. We can depend on God and allow Him to use the trial to deepen our relationship and strengthen our perseverance; or we can allow the enemy to use the trial to bring division, isolation, and separation. We can run to God and experience His abundant life like peace, righteousness, love, and joy, or we can run from God and experience death, darkness, and destruction. What we encounter in the things that are hard to walk through are the very things that teach us more and more of who God is.
Had I not experienced situations that could be fearful and believed in God, I would not know that He is my peace. Had I not experienced situations of uncertainty and leaned on God, I would not know that God is faithful and trustworthy. Had I not experienced situations that could bring sadness and sorrow and cry out to God, I would not know God is my comfort, joy, and strength. These “light and momentary troubles” (2 Corinthians 4:17) are opportunities for us to know our God better and to “stand firm in the faith.” As we persevere in faith we “become complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). We become more and more like Jesus, and that is a cause for “pure joy!”
As I write these words, these questions come to my heart, “Why have I been a runner when trouble comes?” “Why have I wanted to hide?” Perhaps you are wondering the same things too? God commands us to be “steadfast” and “unmovable” (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV). From now on I will not cower to fear, uncertainty, and unbelief and run! From now on I choose to be steadfast and immovable in my faith! What about you?
This week’s song is “In Christ Alone” by Passion Kristian Stanfill. May it be a reminder to us when trials come our way that we can be steadfast standing in the power and love of Christ.
Your Love 