SCRIPTURE:
Romans 5:2-5 Through Him (Jesus) we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
DEVOTIONAL:
We have obtained access to God’s grace by faith in Jesus, so we stand in that grace before God. We rejoice in our hope of God’s glory. Because of this, we can also rejoice in suffering, even though it seems counter-intuitive to do so. Since we’re all fasting right now, let’s just be honest and admit that fasting can feel like suffering! Once we understand that suffering, which we often try hard to avoid, actually helps us gain endurance, which in turn produces character, it can be easier to lean into it. We are called to follow Jesus, to actively seek to become more like Him. Suffering and endurance both help us to get rid of the things in our lives that make us not like Christ, meaning, suffering and endurance refine our character. And all of this leads to hope. We are told that when we place our hope in God, our hope will not be empty but will lead to us being filled with God’s love.
PRAYER:
God, help me not shy away from the suffering of this life. Help me learn to lean into suffering when it comes, because I know that You are with me. Help me to place my hope in You being glorified by the way I walk through trials. Help me remember that it isn’t about me, but about You, and about me becoming more like Christ. When I walk through suffering, let it not be in vain, but help me to learn the lessons You would have me learn during those trials, so I can walk out the other side changed to be more like You.
READING PLAN:
- John 20
- John 21
- Acts 1
- Acts 2
- Acts 3
- Acts 4
- Acts 5
- Acts 6
- Acts 7
- Acts 8
- Acts 9
- Acts 10
- Acts 11
