This Day in History: 0000-10-16

October 16 – Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.

Oh, what a truly undeserved privilege it is! I get chills when I read it – “we have been MADE RIGHT IN GOD’S SIGHT by faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”

How often do we allow the chaos of life to take our focus off of this simple, yet extraordinary truth?  We are sinners.  We had no hope.  Our sin made us enemies of God, and yet because of His great love for us He made a way.  Through faith in the work of our Savior we can be restored, and above all of that, He gives us the Holy Spirit to fill us with His love.  Oh, right, and one more thing.  No matter what we face here on earth, we can look forward with confidence to a future glory in Heaven, where we will be made perfect and spend all of eternity in the very presence of God!

It is because we understand these truths and believe them that we have the power and the strength to find joy even in the trials of life.

What are you struggling with today?  Let’s allow these verses to shift our focus back onto truth and remind us that we can choose to recognize the opportunity we have been afforded in this struggle. The opportunity to grow.  This trial has given us a chance to develop patience, or endurance, which will grow us into strong men and women of character and integrity whose hope is secure in our salvation.  This hope never disappoints because it carries with it the undeserved and exhilarating privileges we mentioned above: right standing with God, peace, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the joy of sharing the glory of Heaven with God Himself for all of eternity, and the position we have as His dearly loved children.  Let’s thank Him and praise Him today for all He has done for us!