Jesus & Joe {Suffering}

Jesus & Joe:  A Coffee Devotional

Simmer in this verse…

Therefore, 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.

MORE THAN THAT, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.  Romans 5:1-5

When I read Romans 1&2 I think, ‘Gosh, what could be better than being justified by faith?  Or peace with God through Christ?  What could be better that standing in grace or rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God?’

But Paul says, that even above rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God, EVEN MORE THAN THAT we rejoice in our sufferings.

But Paul? Wait. Paul, Paul, Paul.

Sufferings? Anxieties? Hardship? Burdens? WHY?

Yes.  Because sufferings produce endurance.

Endurance produces character.

Character produces hope.

And hope does not put us to shame.  It doesn’t disappoint.

Suffering births hope.

Today, if you are suffering, I know you may think it crazy, BUT REJOICE.

Endurance and character and hope is coming to life in you.  

And on the other side of this affliction, you look more like Jesus.

{I’d love to pray for you today.  Leave a comment if you need prayer. Or email me.}

Jesus & Joe is a daily devotional through through the month of August here at beckycrenshaw.com

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