Unwrapping Advent: Through Voices of Wisdom Dec. 30
Monday, December 30, 2024
Day 30
1Therefore,
since we have been made righteous through
his faithfulness, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2We have access by faith into this grace
in which we stand through him,
and we boast in the hope of God’s glory.
3But not only that! We even take pride
in our problems because we know
that trouble produces endurance,
4endurance produces character,
and character produces hope.
5This 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.
Romans 5:1-5, CEB
Jesus Christ,
Therefore Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
Many followers of Jesus Christ wonder “why me” and how they can find peace when faced with problems or trials in their lives. They find it hard to understand how the good, loving, and omnipotent God to whom they have committed themselves does not give them peace and keep them safe from the issues and problems of our broken world.
What these followers do not understand is that God never promised that His faithful believers would be at peace and immune from the troubles and tribulations inherent in a broken, sinful world.
We can simply look to any of the great leaders of our faith whose stories are included in the Bible to see that no one experienced everlasting peace, exempt from problems and trials. Each one of Jesus’ apostles experienced significant problems and trials throughout their lives. All were martyred except for John, who avoided martyrdom by miraculously surviving being thrown into a pot of boiling oil.
Even Jesus suffered trials and challenges, including Satan tempting him in the wilderness immediately after being glorified by God during his baptism; being rejected by the people of his hometown Nazareth, who attempted to throw him off a cliff; and being falsely accused, tortured, mocked, and crucified by the leaders of his own nation and religion, the Jewish Sanhedrin.
If these great people of faith were not protected from the problems and trials of this world, how can we expect anything different?
In spite of the trials and tribulations of our broken and sinful world, the Apostle Paul tells us in our passage for today that we can experience inner peace from reconciliation with God if we remain strong in our faith and trust in the Lord. With the assistance of the Holy Spirit within us, we will experience the inner peace that can come only from living in His love for us and our hope in the glory of His kingdom.
Reflect: Looking back at times of trouble or trial in your past, can you see where God’s love and the love of His Kingdom here on earth were present for you even if you did not feel at peace?
In future times of trouble or trial, what can you do to achieve inner peace where God’s love and the love of His Kingdom here on earth are present for you?
Pray: Glorious and loving God, I thank You for Your gift of the magnificent, created universe in which we live, Your gift of redemptive grace through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and Your gift of the Holy Spirit to help me to grow in closer relationship with You.
As I strive to live a life that glorifies You in a broken and sinful world, I long for the comfort and peace that can only be found in Your love and grace.
As I celebrate the season of Advent, please help me to maintain my focus on You and on being in Your Kingdom in my life today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Chuck Baumer
Discipleship Committee and Disciple Bible Studies
Home-Based, Sunday Morning, and Men’s Small Groups