- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,539
And not only [that], but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4 NKJV
The man who has been justified by faith has peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Not only does he glory in the hope found in Christ, but also in tribulation. That sets him far apart from the person who hasn’t been justified by faith and is devastated when tribulation comes.
Consider your last tribulation. Maybe it was an illness, or a job loss, or an injury. Maybe it has something more severe, like losing your home or a family member. After undergoing a period of mourning your loss, whatever it was, how did you respond? Did you see the spiritual benefit in it?
Not that God wants you to find happiness as a result of your loss, but He does want your loss to transform and shape your character. And ultimately, He wants to give you eternal hope through temporal pain. Lean on Jesus Christ and show the world what the power of the Gospel looks like.
Trust Him to use your deepest heartache for the advancement of His kingdom in you.
Prayer: Lord, like everyone else, I have experienced tribulation. And I haven’t always done so gracefully. Give me a kingdom perspective so I can be more like Christ, radiating eternal hope to those around me.
The man who has been justified by faith has peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Not only does he glory in the hope found in Christ, but also in tribulation. That sets him far apart from the person who hasn’t been justified by faith and is devastated when tribulation comes.
Consider your last tribulation. Maybe it was an illness, or a job loss, or an injury. Maybe it has something more severe, like losing your home or a family member. After undergoing a period of mourning your loss, whatever it was, how did you respond? Did you see the spiritual benefit in it?
Not that God wants you to find happiness as a result of your loss, but He does want your loss to transform and shape your character. And ultimately, He wants to give you eternal hope through temporal pain. Lean on Jesus Christ and show the world what the power of the Gospel looks like.
Trust Him to use your deepest heartache for the advancement of His kingdom in you.
Prayer: Lord, like everyone else, I have experienced tribulation. And I haven’t always done so gracefully. Give me a kingdom perspective so I can be more like Christ, radiating eternal hope to those around me.