Amy Boucher Pye

Tag: Romans 5

  • Weekly Devotional: The hope of glory (4 in Romans series)

    Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1–11 (NIV)

    “Therefore.” Paul uses this word in his letters to signify a change or a climax or a conclusion. Here in the letter to the Romans, he uses it to signal that he’s moving from his discussion of how people find redemption through Jesus to the benefits of living as those who are transformed and redeemed. We who have “peace with God” now can “boast in the hope” of God’s glory – our salvation is assured and we are free to embrace life empowered by God’s Spirit living within us. No longer do we need to be shackled to the ways of sin. And all of this through Christ’s death – he who died not only for good people, but for the ungodly.

    We hold onto the hope of glory, which helps us when we suffer and things go wrong. Because we live in a fallen world which is not as God intended it, we experience pain and the death of loved ones and disease and betrayal and so on. The Lord redeems our pain, and through our suffering we learn to persevere, our character is strengthened, and we find hope that does not disappoint.

    And yet sometimes some Christians seem to put such a positive spin on suffering or pain that they almost seem to welcome it. Yet how can we rejoice in cancer or heartache or any of the horrible things we experience and witness on a regular basis? I believe the Lord doesn’t send these things to us, but when they happen in this fallen world, he’s right there with us, holding us and helping us.

    Today, know the assurance of the Lord that he will never leave you and that through Jesus’ sacrifice you are his redeemed one whom he loves.

    For reflection: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

  • Weekly Devotional: Beacons of hope (11 in Hope and Trust in God series)

    Photo: Phil Warren, flickr

    We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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. Romans 5:1–5

    This passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds me of the old hymn, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” For it is through the death of Jesus on the cross that we base our hope of redemption, grace, and life everlasting. As Paul says, through Jesus we gain access to the grace on which we stand.

    But after affirming the tenets of our faith, Paul turns suddenly to the subject of suffering. It can seem jarring, but Paul knows that we live in a world that is not as God made it to be. Thus he tells the Romans that even as they hope and look to the coming kingdom of God, they must expect suffering. And that through their suffering they will gain the Christ-like attributes of perseverance, character, and hope. As the Holy Spirit fills their hearts, they will have the strength to make it through their suffering, whether it be persecution, pain, mistreatment, or other.

    Suffering is not something we welcome, and perseverance is a trait we’d rather God simply gave us as a gift, instead of something we develop over time. But our character is formed day in and day out: through the sometimes hard conversations with family members; through how we treat the person at work we find particularly grating; through learning to give of ourselves selflessly, even when it’s not convenient; through holding back on flinging hurtful words to those near us. With the Holy Spirit living in us and empowering us, we can increasingly bring glory to God and peace to those whom we meet. As we do so, we will become beacons of hope – perhaps while not realizing just how much God’s light is shining through us.

    Prayer: Lord, help us as we suffer that we might persevere. Fill us with your Spirit that we might rest in hope.