⁶ When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. ⁷ Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. ⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Demonstrating Love

I’m always amazed when people focus in the later part of this verse and seem to forget the beginning part. People will ask me why it says we were “God’s enemies.” They focus on the negative wording rather than on the part that says how God demonstrated his love for us by sacrificing his son while we were still sinners.

Since some will have trouble moving forward unless I explain the “enemies” part of this passage, let me take a minute to give you my thoughts on it. Yes, we were once enemies of God. But it wasn’t the real “us” that was his enemy. It was the sin that had control over our lives. You see, God is absolutely holy. All sin is his enemy. And so, the sin that was within our nature battled against a holy God who wanted abundant life for us.

And yet, it was while we were still in that state: sinners, opposed to God, that he sent Jesus. And it was through Jesus’ death on the cross that the power of sin over our lives was broken and suddenly our nature was free to be connected once again to God.

But think about how he did it. While we were still enemies he demonstrated incredible love. Would you do that? Could you do that? If someone was directly opposed to you, their very nature hated everything you represented. They denounced you, mocked you, blamed you. Could you show the depth of love that God demonstrated? Would you sacrifice your family for an enemy?

God did. How incredible is that?

My prayer: Lord, it’s truly amazing. Grace. Undeserved merit. No, it’s more than just undeserved. It’s not just that I didn’t deserve your love. It’s that I deserved your wrath. I deserved punishment. And yet, while I was in that place of deserving the worse, you instead gave me the best. You gave me your son. Wow. Thank you. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.⁵ 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.

Hope In The Midst Of Trials

If you’re reading today’s devotional and you’re facing a difficult scenario, you might find Paul’s words a little shallow. It’s like the friend who says to you, “Well, hang in there, it’s going to get better!” In many ways, it’s cold comfort. Your trail may be huge. The pain very real. The fear of what tomorrow holds quite significant. And then you read, “Hang in there, your trial builds character!” Not exactly what you need to hear, is it?

So, read it again.

Only this time, read it right. And let the words sink in. Because what Paul is saying is far more powerful than simply, “Hang in there!” No, Paul wouldn’t dismiss our trials that lightly. He wouldn’t just toss out the whole, “Hey, I’m praying for you!” or “Well, sucks to be you, eh?” lines that we often here from people.

You see, Paul’s been there. He’s faced trials and problems. In fact, few of us could relate to the types of issues that Paul has had to deal with. Some of you are familiar with what he endured: five times he was whipped, three times he was beaten with rods, once he was beaten with stones, three times he was shipwrecked, once he spent twenty-four hours adrift at sea. And those are just some of the things he has faced! (see 2 Corinthians 11:24-27)

One of his most revealing comments, and one that helps explain today’s passage a little better, is found in 2 Corinthians 1:8-11. In that passage, Paul admits he believed he would die as a result of the trial he was facing. He, and his companions, were “crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure … in fact, we expected to die.” Perhaps some of you can relate to that level of despair. But Paul’s not done. He goes on to say these words, “As a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God … we have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.”

And that’s where today’s passage fits in. You see, Paul’s saying far more than simply, “Hey, your trial will build character.” No, he’s encouraging those who face trials to not lose sight of the God who stands with you in the midst of your trial. If you choose – and the choice really is yours to make – you can allow the trial you face to take you on a journey that will bring you to a place of confident hope in God. That journey goes through a season of character development, to a place of celebrating salvation, past the potential for disappointment until it brings you right into the arms of God.

Your trials can break you. Or, your trials can be the catalyst to take you deeper into the love and strength of God.

Paul allowed his trials to lead him on a journey to God. And because he did, he was able to say some of the most inspirational words you’ll find in Scripture. You can read them in Philippians 4:11-13. “… I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

Only someone who has face great trials can truly appreciate those words.

My prayer: Lord, I will not allow my trials to overcome me. Instead, I make the decision to take a journey. It begins in the place of pain and uncertainty that I am currently experiencing. But that is only the starting point. This journey takes me from my trial to that place of complete comfort that is found in your arms. My trials will not push me away from you, they will cause me to run to you. Into your arms. The strength I need will come from you. The hope I crave will be found in you. No matter what today or tomorrow holds, I trust … you. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

¹ 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. ² 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.

Peace With God

I love the phrase peace with God. It says so much. Without realizing it, many people spend much of their lives striving to find peace with God. Again, we don’t call it that. We think we are looking for purpose, or fulfillment, or whatever, but what we are truly looking for is peace with God.

Peace with God brings all those other things. When we understand our relationship with God and live out our purpose as a result, we find fulfillment in everything we do. It really is that simple.

Paul refers to it as a place of undeserved privilege. And it’s exactly that. I wont rehash everything that I’ve said over the past week other than to remind us again that we did nothing to achieve peace with God. We simply accepted the gift of grace offered to us by Jesus Christ.

You know what I’ve discovered? Usually, when my heart is troubled and I feel unsettled or frustrated with where my life is at, it’s usually because I’ve wandered a bit from that place of peace with God. I’ve started to do things my way, according to my wants and desires. When I readjust my priorities and turn back to that connection with God, I quickly find the peace I crave once again.

If you’re there: that place of turmoil or frustration, perhaps it’s because you are doing the same thing. If so, then today is a good day to readjust your priorities again. It’s a good time to turn back to the undeserved privilege you have as a follower of Christ.

My prayer: Lord, thank you for the peace that we can experience with you. It is a peace that remains true even in the midst of the greatest of storms. Thank you for offering me peace with God. Forgive me when I stray from that place of peace. And when I do, help me get back on course. Amen.

Until tomorrow.