Over the past week I have pause to reflect on the meaning of life, perhaps Brian in the Monty Python movie had a point “always look on the bright side” but the reality is there are times when that seems a little hard to do. The Bible is littered with laments and reality checks, life isn’t always simple, straightforward, or easy. My Mother had a brain tumour operation last week, I give thanks that through to a combination of surgeons skills, a strong will to live on the part of my Mother, and prayer which availed, Mum made it through and is making a good recovery. It was also my 44th Birthday on Saturday, and it is fair to say I am starting to feel my age!
Paul knew about the ups and downs of life and he knew that faith also is developed by being taken through the good and bad and hanging on to the promises of God- Romans 5 is a good example and a timely reminder
Romans 5 vs. 1-5 – Faith Brings Joy
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace
With God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us
Not that we first loved him, but that he first loved us, and died that sin in us could cease
To have control, that in his blood we can be washed clean and thus
We could turn away from the old self, and be prepared to decrease that he might increase
We have to have faith in what has been done, Christ died for us
Not that we go on sinning but by faith repent of that which is sinful and from it cease
We can have peace in with God because of what the Lord has done for us
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand,
And we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
God desires for us that we have life in all its abundance, he loves us and all our needs does understand
We can have confidence in his love for us; he does not treat us poorly
We can stand in his presence, enter his courts with praise, yet do we comprehend or fully understand
Or value this gift that we can joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
Faith is not just about being happy clappy, or being on a permanent cloud nine, rather it requires endurance
We are often so unaware of how blessed we are, we eat, we live life, there is no sense of hunger, starvation
Yet we need to know how to ride through the storms when they come, to let go of our stubborn independence
To learn to listen to God calling us in the midst of the storm, to get out of the boat and do it with conviction
We need to not see life as a sprint, get caught up in our own needs, but stop, listen and give him precedence
How can we develop strength of character without facing things, we need to have confident hope of salvation
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us,
because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
At the end of the day it is not about us, rather letting God in, and allowing him to shape us
For he gives us the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth, and to do it with love
And when we have the Holy Spirit in us we can know God’s peace and pray and discuss
With God his plans, what he desires and can hold firm in the knowledge of his love
Mark Maffey, September 2008
(NLT)