Peace and Hope

Romans 5

Peace and Hope

 ¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we^[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ 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.

When I was a teenager I heard an English evangelist and teacher say to remember what it meant to be justified through faith.  He said, "Just as if I'd never sinned."  That is an amazing concept to be viewd by Jesus who died for ME.  When I look at my children, I see who I love, not their mistakes.  It is His unconditional love for us.

Now, to glory in our sufferings is a little harder for me to accept.  Ouch!!  In our society, we have not been taught to accept sufferings.  We are to FIX everything.  Suffering is bad!  I am a model of trying to fix things and of course having lots of failures.  Here is where I need the Holy Spirit to give me His Wisdom.