Have Joy, Be Patient, and Persevere
(NRSV) Rom 12:13 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.
Have you ever met a mournful Christian? Such a description should be a misnomer. After all, when we have Jesus in our hearts we should be joyful. Shouldn’t we?
If there was audio attached to this devotional, you might hear me snicker. Why? Because life happens, and when the unexpected occurs, or when we suffer a devastating loss, joy becomes elusive. Yet, Paul, who certainly had his share of trials, says we should rejoice, but in this instance we are to rejoice in hope.
Why should we have hope? For Christ followers, hope is not an empty promise. No, we have the experience of prayers that have been answered and expectations that have been met. Does that mean we do not have disappointments? No, it means we do not linger in the realm of defeat.
When we can learn to choose joy in the midst of suffering, then we can also learn to be persistent in prayer. And when we develop a regular prayer life, then we can bless those who hurt us, living in harmony with all around us. Isn’t that what Christian living is all about?
May each of us be quick to find joy in place of sorrow, to seek out God early and often, and may we learn to balance our talking to God with listening to God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
- Posted in: Blogs
Seeking Holiness 