October 21, 2015 – Romans 5:3-5

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. 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. Romans 5:3-5There goes America’s favorite pastime…complain, grumble and gripe when troubles arise.  My favorite question when things are almost too much for me — “What am I going to learn this time?”In reading the last part of the scripture above, I can see us as a car.  God checks our ‘love’ quantity.  Then tells the Holy Spirit that we are a quart low on love, and fill us up again.  For his love is without end and we always need to be reminded that God is Love.  When our Love disappears, that is when the grumbling and complaining begin.When we experience trials and troubles, the flip side is our hope of salvation.  For we grow in endurance to character to our hope of salvation.  It is always a process.  Just as a baby goes from rolling over to sitting up, to crawling to walking.  At first the process seems to take forever.  Then we begin leaping with joy!  Our hearts overflow with love.How can we depend on this love and this joy promise?  It is impossible for God to lie.  God is our refuge and He is our salvation.  We hold fast to the hope He gives us with confidence. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 10:23.So God has given both his promise and his oath.  These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.  Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.  Hebrews 6:18