Eternity Daily Bible Study: No. 520 Romans 1-8 - A Righteousness That Is By Faith Verses: Romans 5:3-5 Topic: The Path To Hope Date: 6th October 2005 Romans 5:3-5 HCSB And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, (4) endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. (5) This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. M. Scott Peak started his famous book "The Road Less Traveled with the sentence: "Life is difficult." This points out an essential truth that we are all tested with problems pain and difficulties. Robert Schuller once wrote a book entitled: "Tough Times Don't Last but Tough People Do." Human hope, founded on God can outlast the toughest of times. Or as Corrie Ten Boom said: "No matter how deep the suffering. God's love is deeper still." Suffering is an essential part of life. This is not to say that you should not take aspirin for a headache or get a sore tooth treated at a dentist. We are not talking about medical pain as much as "life pain", especially afflictions and tribulations from external events such as that stemming from abuse, poverty, injustice and persecution. The actual Greek word Paul uses is "thlipsis" which is defined in Thayer's Greek Lexicon lexicon as: 1) a pressing, pressing together, pressure 2) metaphorically oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits. So we can probably use "life's pressures" as an accurate literal translation of the Greek. It is not only God who is interested in how we handle pressure. Executives who have a good attitude towards life's pressures, pain and problems are said to have a "high adversity quotient" and are now sought-out by corporate head-hunters. Paul tells us of a path that will get us to the "other side of suffering" and it is: Affliction -> Endurance -> Proven Character -> Hope. In other words God makes you stronger and better and that eventually produces a faith-filled attitude which is certain of ultimate victory. Now many people break down at the first step - they refuse to accept the task of endurance in the face of life's pain. They see pain as evil, as destructive, and as an unwarranted intrusion on life that should simply go away. They simply want the pain to vanish, they have no notion of bravely enduring the pain and becoming a better person. These people often self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, or seek consolation in sympathetic relationships of mutual dependency and manipulation. Indeed they feel our counselling rooms with their strategies to get through life without facing and embracing their pain. Suffering has to be borne, endured and eventually mastered. God never puts us through a test tougher than we can take (1 Corinthians 10:13) though at times it may seem like it. In fact the doctrine of the cross means that Christians are called to a certain kind of suffering for Christ. 1 Peter 2:20-21 HCSB For what credit is there if you endure when you sin and are beaten? But when you do good and suffer, if you endure, it brings favor with God. (21) For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps. Romans 8:17-18 HCSB and if children, also heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ--seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (18) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. In the New Testament there is a close connection between enduring suffering and receiving eternal glory. This is a two-part connection. Firstly suffering rightly borne produces a good character in the Christian. The Christian becomes deeper, more solid and worthy, a rock on the midst of the sea of humanity. And secondly righteous suffering is noted by God and the angels and is rewarded in Heaven. Psalms 31:7-8 HCSB I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithful love because You have seen my affliction. You have known the troubles of my life (8) and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place. Paul then tells us that endurance produces proven character. The Greek word is dokime and the Thayer Definition is : 1) proving, trial 2) approved, tried character 3) a proof, a specimen of tried worth. In other words - a solid, tried, true and dependable person. It is the exact opposite of a pain-avoiding, neurotic, unreliable, weak and flaky personality. As the person strengthens he or she becomes patient and wise and learns to wait on God. Over time they are able to say "God is faithful and true" and to believe God will come through for them in the end. This produces hope. And because God is faithful this hope does not disappoint. This hope-filled ability to work through painful situations and to believe God for impossible things in difficult times is true Abrahamic faith and opens us up to God's favor. Indeed suffering works in us to make us perfect recipients of the love of God that is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Now this is not an easy process and takes a life-time to learn it. Indeed Abraham was 75 years old when he was commended for having such faith! In our younger years we squeal at the pain and protest at the suffering. We are like Peter telling Jesus not to go to the cross. Over time we see God at work and learn to trust Him bit by bit in the varying circumstances of our lives. We gradually develop a sense of when we are "copping out" and short-circuiting the work God is doing in our lives. We need to learn to hang in there and to trust the Lord that good will come from it: James 1:2-4 HCSB Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (4) But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Blessings, John Edmiston (johned@aibi.ph) REFER OTHERS: If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily bible study. 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