"We Glory In Tribulations"
Romans 5:3-5
God's elect, those who have been justified
by the grace of God through the blood of Christ, are a people who "glory
in tribulation." We glory in spite of our tribulations; and we glory in
our tribulations, knowing that they "work for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory" (II Cor.
"TRIBULATION WORKETH PATIENCE" -
Tribulation itself does not produce patience in anyone; but tribulation which
is sanctified by faith works patience. And the patience helps us far more than
the tribulation hurts us.
"AND PATIENCE, EXPERIENCE" - As
we patiently endure tribulation we experience things which otherwise we could
only know in theory (God's Faithfulnes, Christ's Sympathy, The Spirit's Comfort,The Sufficiency of Grace). Growth in the grace and
knowledge of Christ comes by experience. Thank God for any experience that
produces it, even if the experience is tribulation.
"AND EXPERIENCE, HOPE" - Grace
experienced increases hope of grace promised. Deliverance experienced
encourages us to hope for deliverance to come (II Cor.
"AND HOPE MAKETH NOT ASHAMED" -
The good hope of grace, the hope of God's elect, is a hope that will never
deceive. It is a blessed and sure hope. "The hope of the righteous shall
be gladness; but the expectation of the wicked shall perish" (Prov.
"BECAUSE THE LOVE
OF CHRIST IS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS GIVEN UNTO
US." In the midst of tribulation the Spirit of God pours out upon
God's suffering children a fresh gust of God's special, covenant love, causing
us to "glory in tribulations."The love of God is sealed to our hearts
by the Holy Spirit; and the knowledge of God's love for us, revealed in the sacrifice
of Christ and in his fatherly dealings with us (Heb. 12:5-11), draws out our
love to him (I John 4:19).This blessed experience of God's love constrains us,
in the midst of tribulation, to rejoice in the Lord and wait patiently before
him in hope.
Don Fortner