Today's Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:1-31; Mark 7:24-31
“More than that, we rejoice in suffering...” (Romans 5:2-3a)
Happy Lent! In the name of Jesus. Amen. Happy suffering! Happy trials! Happy not-having-enough-to-pay-your bills! Happy being-mocked-for-Jesus’-sake! Happy heart problems! Happy cancer! Happy death!
Only in faith and by faith can you rejoice in your suffering. Only in faith can you receive all things—even death—from the Lord’s hand as a gift. In Christ, in His death and resurrection, you can rejoice in all things.
Sickness and death come from our sins. God did not intend them into the world. He isn’t the author of evil. He created us perfect and in a perfect relationship with Him.
But God is God and is quite capable of using these things to bring us to a closer relationship with Him. God is such a big God and is in such control over the universe that He can even use the devil’s greatest tricks to save you! Yet, when you suffer the devil would have you respond by falling into despair. Where’s God? What did you do to deserve this?
What St. Paul tells you today is that even these things are used by God to produce something in you other than unbelief. Suffering produces endurance. As you endure these terrible things, you cling less to what youcan do and more and more to what Godhas done for you. God is so Godly that He can even turn the devil’s arrows into blessings for you.
His endurance produces character. As you endure these things, your character changes how you carry yourself changes, your priorities change. You become less centered on what’s about you and more concerned about how to look after someone else.
Character produces hope. Certain hope, sure hope that God is going to save you from everything—even death. Your body may die, but you will live eternally in Christ. You are already alive in Christ. All death can do is make you finally be able to see the truth of God’s goodness.
Now, don’t be crass about this. Don’t slap the person on the back who just had something terrible happen to them and say, “Good for you! God must really love you.” Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. And when the terrible thing happens to you. When the devil turns his attention to see if he can tempt you into unbelief, know this: God can use even the most terrible things to bring you close to His Son.
You have peace with God through Jesus Christ. You have been justified, forgiven, by His death. That alone gives you access to the Father. Have a happy Lent and a Happy whatever-else-you-are-going through. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.