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Scripture Reading:
Romans 5:3-4 (English Standard Version)
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3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
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Thought for the day:
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I’m privileged to be in a position of being responsible to help people in their journey of disciples although it’s heart-breaking when I hear of some of things that people go through or have endured in their lives. I have lived an incredibly sheltered existence and my worst moments are insignificant when compared to other people. I’m also aware that it doesn’t matter how bad things are for other people, our own personal pain is the only consideration and comparisons are futile.
After reading our verses today and other similar passages, I’m staggered to hear preachers talk of a gospel of health, wealth and living ‘the best life’. All of this needs to be balanced of course and I’d be the first to agree that being a Christian isn’t just ‘the best life’ but it’s the ONLY way to live. I disagree though with the concept of going through life inside some kind of protective bubble where we are exempt from pain, weakness and poverty.
One only has to read the Acts of the Apostles to realise that members of the early church were brutally persecuted, tortured and killed as they upheld their faith in the resurrected Christ. I’m not sure how each one would have reacted after listening to a guy dressed in an expensive suit telling them how they could improve their lives by financially supporting his ministry.
Scripture consistently teaches us that we can’t expect a luxurious life free from difficulty. The exact opposite is true. Jesus Himself tells His disciples that “in this world you will have trouble”. The word used for trouble is the same Greek word translated as ‘sufferings’ in our verse today. The word also can be translated as ‘affliction, anguish, burdened’.
Life can be hard but there’s no reason to give up. Our circumstances can press upon us so much that in some cases we physically find it hard to breathe. If we read Hebrews chapter 11, we see incredible cases of people who refused to step back in their faith. They were destitute, persecuted, mistreated and yet they kept a tight grip on their faith.
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Prayer and Application:
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We will not be spared difficulties or problems. However, we are called to rejoice while we are going through them. It’s tough but there’s a reason for every problem. God is working in us and through us.
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