Hello Everyone,
It’s 41F in Utopia, Ontario, Canada. The ground is soggy with patches of melting ice and snow. I wonder what the weather is doing where you live. The big question - Is Spring coming soon?
This week, the Lord has shown me again how many of us are facing situations that, at times, can be difficult, challenging, painful and sometimes agonizing. As I have been struggling to develop a strategy to deal with something in my life, a strategy that I could share with others facing a similar situation, the Lord has answered me with two words “stand" and "joy”.
There are many verses in the Bible that contain these two words, but in the end, Romans 5:1-5 as expressed in the Amplified version is what I wish to share with you today.
Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power].
And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation].
Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
As we take these words into our hearts, let’s:
Stand together in the joy of His salvation.
Stand together on all of God’s promises.
Stand together so that nothing moves us from His love, His comfort, His rest, and the fruit of His Spirit.
May God’s peace fill our hearts, and hope fill our thoughts.
Amen.