Romans 5:1-11

1    Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness combined with our faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  ²  We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand through him, and we boast in the hope of God’s glory.  ³ But not only that! We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, ⁴ endurance produces character, and character produces hope.  ⁵  This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 

6    While we were still weak, at the right moment, Christ died for ungodly people.  ⁷  It isn’t often that someone will die for a righteous person, though maybe someone might dare to die for a good person.  ⁸  But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us.  ⁹  So, now that we have been made righteous by his blood, we can be even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him.  ¹⁰  If we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son while we were still enemies, now that we have been reconciled, how much more certain is it that we will be saved by his life?  ¹¹  And not only that: we even take pride in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the one through whom we now have a restored relationship with God. 

Listening to God: You don’t have to go looking for suffering.  Life will bring it your way.  And if you are faithful to my call, you may have even more suffering than those who are not faithful.  Don’t be afraid of it.  I can do things for you in your suffering that I cannot do otherwise.  Suffering strips you of your defenses, your pride, your ability to control things.  I can do my best work in you when these things are taken away.  I don’t send suffering to you or enjoy watching you go through it.  But I am able to use it for your good and your growth in grace.  Trust me when suffering comes.  I will never leave your or forsake you.  I will give you gifts as you come through the fire.

Journal or lift up your prayers and reflections to God.

*Our season of prayer guide comes from Joan Gray’s book, Sailboat Church: Helping Your Church Rethink Its Mission and Practice.