Romans 5:3-5

Passage

And not only this, but we boast in our suffering having known that suffering brings about patient endurance.  Patient endurance brings about genuine character.  Genuine character brings about hope.  And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was being given to us.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul tells us that we boast in our sufferings.  This is a very challenging concept, but it is an essential one for the faith.  I don’t know a single person who looks forward to being challenged, confronted, stressed, put under suffering, etc.  But the one who has submitted to God can accept the suffering because they trust that God will bring them through it and they will be closer to God for the journey.

Who in their right mind enjoys suffering?  Do you think Christ suffered here on this earth (besides the crucifixion, obviously)?  How can we look to Christ and His disciples for a faithful example when we endure suffering?

Second Thought:

Paul then gives us a process for spiritual growth.  Suffering leads to patient endurance, patient endurance leads to genuine character, genuine character leads to hope, and hope leads to the Holy Spirit.  Now, I don’t know a single Christian who doesn’t want the Holy Spirit.  I don’t know too many people in general who reject hope.  But how many of us are genuinely willing to embrace suffering?  How many of us are willing to patiently endure the suffering?  Note both words there: patience and endurance.  How many of us are willing to go through the process of developing genuine character?  In order for God to truly develop character – which leads to hope and the Holy Spirit – we must patiently endure the passage through suffering.  It isn’t easy.

Why do human beings develop more character through suffering than through times when everything goes great?  What is it about being challenged that brings about growth?

Third Thought:

How is it that we know that we have received God’s love?  We have the Holy Spirit.  God has given us the Holy Spirit and as Ephesians 1:13-14 says, the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our salvation until we should take hold of it ourselves.  The Holy Spirit is the culmination of our spiritual walk with God.  As we go through life, the closer we draw to God the closer we walk in the Spirit.  God does not desire to be distant from us but to dwell within us.  That is why He has poured out His Spirit within us!

What does it feel like to you to have the Holy Spirit?  What does it feel like when you stray away from God and the Holy Spirit becomes less present in your life?  What does it mean to you that God desires to dwell within you through the presence of the Holy Spirit?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 5:6-8