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Day 26: Romans 5/Psalm 51
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Sunday March 21, 2004
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Therefore, since
we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God… we also
rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:1,3-4 (New International Version)
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Peace with
God and within
Wow, justified! Someone once said that an easy way to remember what
that means is “just-as-if-I’d never sinned.” What a gift available only
through faith in the person and work of Christ! And as a result of
being justified, we have peace with God, a phrase used so often that it
can almost become trite. But this is peace that resides deep within our
spirit and establishes a sure and trustworthy foundation upon which we
can build our lives. From this peace proceeds joy, a transcendent joy
that Paul says we can even experience in the midst of our suffering,
because suffering produces perseverance, which produces character,
which produces hope. Hebrews adds this about Jesus, “Although he was a
son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.”
Now that certainly
doesn’t describe my natural default! Rather, suffering is more likely
to produce stress, discouragement, or even despair. Someone else once
said, “Pain is inevitable but misery is optional.” Yet when
difficulties arise, misery can seem like the easiest option. Why?
Because my bent is to avoid suffering. In fact, I tend to equate a lack
of suffering with a better life. My tendency is to sidestep suffering,
not embrace it. However, in dancing around it, it gains presence and
power, creating its own “misery index.”
A classic example
occurred 14 years ago when I went through a devastating divorce, in and
from which I experienced the most profound pain I’ve encountered. For
nearly 9 years the resulting wounds impaired my relationships with God
and others, especially in the area of trust. But a tape and a friend
finally helped me begin to embrace (not befriend) the suffering and
grow through it rather than circumventing it. God allows suffering in
our lives to draw us closer to Himself and His character. Through it,
he intends to enlarge our foundation of peace, not detract from it.
What about you?
What is your default response to suffering?
Today’s
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for justifying and therefore making peace with me.
Show me how I resist and even seek to avoid suffering that You desire
to use to actually bring healing and draw me closer to your heart.
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Memory Verse of the Week:
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that
came by Christ Jesus."
Romans 3:23-24 (New International Version)
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For a complete
listing of all the previous devotionals in this "50 Day
Experience," click here.
To read the chapter or psalm of the day online, click on one of the
following links:
o
Romans
5
o
Psalm
51
Bill Koontz, koontz@cincyvineyard.com,
Director of Generous Living at VCC
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