"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..." — Rom 5:1 (NIV)
The reading for the 23rd of September is about peace and joy - it is about the good and wonderful things God is always ready to give us whole-heartedly.
It spoke about hope. And how we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Along with this hope is the peace and joy that can come only from knowing Jesus. The peace and joy that can come only from knowing that Jesus Himself gave up His throne, His life for a sinner like me. Is there hope more powerful than knowing that even as I sin, Christ died for me? Oh what beautiful hope that brings - I may not be deserving out of my own merit, but in God’s overflowing love, He saved us and died for us.
This life may have sufferings, sometimes even not by our own doing, but these verses remind us today that we may also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. God is with us in the joys of our celebrations, but above all God is with us even as we are slumped to the ground. Take heart, for God is our hope.
Peace, joy, hope, love. Oh praise the Lord for His grace, today and everyday of our lives.
Reflection on Romans 5:1-11 by Blessie Sto Tomas
(Listen to the Podcast here)
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