Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
The faith we live in has a strange mix of good, bad, and ugly. The ugly is usually situational and has a result that is confusion, hurt, indecision, pain, and many other ugly things. This ugliness from our life situations can at times knock us off the path God has for us and it will surely make us "feel" horrible. You will hear again and again "I live by faith and not by feelings." Which is right but.... we still have to deal with those "feelings." Those feelings many times are the result of having peace or not having peace. Peace is a strange beast at times and I have a constant war with the enemy in trying to take away my peace. For years my peace has been a result of who I think I am and who other people think I am. This has been a flawed thought process that ends up not helping me at all. So what do I do to handle these " feelings?" Well, it does come back to faith. Faith in God. Faith in the people around me who love me. Faith in the life path I am on. But in the above scripture the Apostle Paul states that our peace as born again believers comes from one source. Jesus! Our standing with God because of what Jesus has done for us. It is right there in Romans 5:1. Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. There is also something else attached to it in verse 2 where Paul writes 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. So we stand in privilege, undeserved as it is, but still privilege. And that is because of our faith! I am not adding the "David" commentary to any of these verses. It is the Bible and just the Bible. So what do we do with this word from Paul. BELIEVE IT!! Paul goes on to add to it also by saying in verse 3. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. So get this; We get peace, with faith added on, and a rejoicing cherry on top. And the end result is ENDURANCE!! Endurance (def used as a noun) The fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way. Wow! Amazing!
This process of growing in the Lord has all kinds of little nuggets that end up being huge boulders of faith for each us. Boulders that make us immovable in our faith. Look at verse 4 in Romans 5. Romans 5: 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. So the process continues on and on until we get so strong in our faith that we cannot be swayed by the attacks of the enemy. So being beaten up every day turns into a life of peace that kickstarts the process of growth in the Lord that ends up strengthening and growing our hope of salvation. I am just repeating what the Bible says, so I believe we can go with that one for sure.
Now the icing on the peace cake. Verse 5 says 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Therein lies the abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10 and the enemy does not want us to experience that life at all. So he must interrupt the process by getting us distracted from the truth, especially distracted from what God's Word says. The Path of Peace is littered with one disappointment after another, but if you stay on the path your faith will produce a lasting experience of salvation, which will lead to joy and your life will then be complete....lack nothing. To lack nothing has to be the result of asking God for wisdom in the situations of life, and the Holy Spirit, who you receive when you receive Jesus, is the power you need to get that wisdom. James says it this way in James 1:2-4 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. Needing nothing? Needing nothing and complete!
The Path of Peace may seem overwhelming at times, with not much peace. But don't despair. Better days are ahead and the God who gives us this peace through Jesus is on the path of peace with us. So, keep walking and keep believing. God is still on the path with you.
The Pilgrimage Continues.....
David Warren
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