Let’s begin with a poll. How many of you have experienced trials? Check. Hardships? Check. Sufferings? Check. And after those experiences, how many of you have rejoiced? OUCH. That’s a hard one. Don’t get me wrong, I love to celebrate and be glad in a lot of circumstances, but to glory and rejoice in hardship is not easy. Paul has some encouragement and hope to share:
Romans 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Paul begins with the surprising claim that we can rejoice even in the worst of times, and that we can rejoice because we have peace with God and hope of glory through Jesus Christ. We can rejoice because God refines us through our trials and strengthens our hope in him. Did you notice that verse 3 began with “not only so, . . .” Other translations read, “and not only that, . . .”. Not only what? What is going on here? Paul is sharing the benefits of believing, of being justified through faith. I want to encourage you to read the chapter in its entirety. To quote what Martin Luther said about chapter 5, “In the whole Bible there is hardly another chapter which can equal this triumphant text.”
Paul knew a lot about suffering. Like, did you know that he was bitten by a viper? And that ain’t all! Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11: 23-27 “. . . been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked”
While preparing to write this devotion I spent some time reflecting on a few of the trials that I’ve faced. I’m not talking about “inconveniences of life”, and though there is a large garter snake hanging out in my garden, I haven’t endured anything remotely close to what Paul suffered, but he did describe “trials of various kinds”. He shared a lot about persecution for his faith. But he also talks about labors and lack, about accidents, anxiety, and his physical condition. I, like you, have had my share of hardships, and I suspect that there will be more. In all of this, I can look back and see that the trials were formative for my character, and I know that my relationship with Christ was deepened. How assuring to know that God the Sculptor loves me, and with his hammer and chisel, has a loving purpose to accomplish hope of the glory of God. These things are only possible because of the finished work on the cross.
God is creating a masterpiece of hope in us through our suffering. Let us rejoice together!
Romans 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Paul begins with the surprising claim that we can rejoice even in the worst of times, and that we can rejoice because we have peace with God and hope of glory through Jesus Christ. We can rejoice because God refines us through our trials and strengthens our hope in him. Did you notice that verse 3 began with “not only so, . . .” Other translations read, “and not only that, . . .”. Not only what? What is going on here? Paul is sharing the benefits of believing, of being justified through faith. I want to encourage you to read the chapter in its entirety. To quote what Martin Luther said about chapter 5, “In the whole Bible there is hardly another chapter which can equal this triumphant text.”
Paul knew a lot about suffering. Like, did you know that he was bitten by a viper? And that ain’t all! Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11: 23-27 “. . . been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked”
While preparing to write this devotion I spent some time reflecting on a few of the trials that I’ve faced. I’m not talking about “inconveniences of life”, and though there is a large garter snake hanging out in my garden, I haven’t endured anything remotely close to what Paul suffered, but he did describe “trials of various kinds”. He shared a lot about persecution for his faith. But he also talks about labors and lack, about accidents, anxiety, and his physical condition. I, like you, have had my share of hardships, and I suspect that there will be more. In all of this, I can look back and see that the trials were formative for my character, and I know that my relationship with Christ was deepened. How assuring to know that God the Sculptor loves me, and with his hammer and chisel, has a loving purpose to accomplish hope of the glory of God. These things are only possible because of the finished work on the cross.
God is creating a masterpiece of hope in us through our suffering. Let us rejoice together!