Good Morning!
Text: Romans 4-5 and Proverbs 20:16-30
The opening verses of Romans 5 are a beautiful summary portrait of the Christian life:
…since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings…
The image in my mind is of a rope bridge – the sort in the movies that goes across a deep and severe chasm. The one end is firmly anchored in our past – “having been justified.” We are established and rooted in Jesus and have peace with God. Jesus is our anchor that holds firm. The other end of the bridge is anchored in a secure future, the “hope in the glory of God.” We are heaven bound and absolutely certain to get there. That said, the rope bridge can be pretty scary. It is a long ways down. Wind can buffet and enemies can confront. But we know he is with us, that we have the grace that restores us every time we stumble. And so “we rejoice in our sufferings” as they will “produce hope.”
So – are you being buffeted around today? Does life seem scary? Know that in Christ we are established, safe and secure. Amen.
in Him, Mike