Wednesday Word - Perseverance, Character and Hope

Romans 5:3-5

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

This verse is part of my weekly Sunday School lesson. I'll be the first to admit in the past I have 'cherry-picked' this verse. Meaning I have taken the good parts and pondered them, and discarded the parts I don't like so much!

Perseverance, character; and character, hope: This is a golden chain of Christian growth and maturity. One virtue builds upon another as we grow in the pattern of Jesus.

Most every Christian wants to develop character and have more hope. These qualities spring out of perseverance, which comes through tribulation. We may wish to have better character and more hope without starting with tribulation, but that isn’t God’s pattern and plan.

Three things we can take from these verses:

1. God does not waste our pain. God is able to take our pain and purify us. Our trials are a process, they may feel overwhelming, but we travel THROUGH them, and God is always walking beside us.

2. Endurance wrought by suffering leads us to proved character. God's greatest goal, His unrelenting aim and passion is to form Christ in us.

3. Proven character produces hope because the love of God is poured out into our hearts. Hope has a name and it is Jesus.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

God lovingly enters our suffering. Our hope is not a mere wish, but an assurance because God through the Holy Spirit is pouring His love into our hearts.

Therefore we say – soberly, reverently – we say about tribulation, “Lord. I know You love me and carefully measure every trial and have a loving purpose to accomplish in every tribulation. Lord, I won’t seek trials and search out tribulation, but I won’t despise them or lose hope when they come. I trust Your love in everything You allow.”

Now hope does not disappoint: The hope that tribulation builds in us is not a hope that will be disappointed. We are assured of this because God has proved His intention to complete His work in us – the proof being the love of God… poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

As we grow, may we keep our eye focused on God's promises. When times are hard, God can create something beautiful.

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