Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that but we also boast in our sufferings knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5: 1-5, NRSV.
Gracious God, we thank You for being willing to meet us each day at this place of study, and guide us through Your Word. In the blessed name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Where would we be without grace? Do you realize that it is grace that has kept us standing? Nothing but the matchless grace of God is able to lift us when we fall; dust us off, and encourage us to remain in the race until we reach the “Finish” line. No wonder the psalmist said, “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear thereof and be glad” (Psalm 34: 2, emphasis provided). In what else, In who else, can we boast?
The process begins with faith. The minute we accept the Lord Jesus Christ, by faith, as our personal Savior, from sin, and confess, and turn away from our sins; in that moment, we are justified; and stand before the Father, as if we had never sinned! All things become new (2 Corinthians 5: 17)! And from that moment we begin to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6: 4). Does it mean that we will never fall? No. What it means, is that we will not stay down! Jesus will take us by the hand and lift us up, out of the mud; out of “the miry clay, and set our feet upon the rock to stay!” We are now ready to continue our journey on the road called Sanctification, until we reach the pearly gates!
There will be a lot of hurdles in the road, but thank God, the Christian’s journey is a progressive journey! “Every round will go higher and higher.” Because of this the Lord equipped us for growth! We will be adding virtue to virtue, in the midst of our suffering. For the Christian, some of the greatest growth spurts, come after the most excruciating trials and sufferings. From these sufferings we learn to endure. We are exhorted to “Share in suffering like a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2: 3). While we are enduring, character is forming. Sometimes our path will lead us through the firey furnace; but after the dross has been burned away, like pure gold, the Master will be able to see Himself, reflected in us.
This will fill us with hope! Then there will be no place for disappointment. We have now become conduits for the love of God to flow through us, to others; by His Holy Spirit! Finally, it is time to share in His glory! Then instead of lamenting over our sufferings, by God’s grace, we will be able to make our boast in the LORD, and it will be all because of grace!