Endurance

March 18, 2014

Opening Hymns:
509 Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh509.sht

Scripture Reading:
Romans 5:1-11
5:1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

5:2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

5:3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

5:4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

5:5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

5:7 Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.

5:8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

5:9 Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.

5:10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

5:11 But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Message:
How many times have you boasted about your sufferings? Looking back I can’t picture myself boasting or bragging about something I was suffering through. This scripture, however, gives us a different way to look at it. Suffering can help us grow in faith, and it can strengthen our hope. Perhaps we need to get through a particular storm in our lives in order to face an even bigger storm. Even challenges and struggles can have a very positive effect on our lives.

In the midst of some life storms, this scripture can add comfort. We can remember to rely on God to give us strength. We can rest our hope and our trust in Him. During our challenges we can feel His strength getting us through, and we can also feel the challenge strengthening us. When life is hard, never forget that God is with us each step of the day.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for helping us grow stronger through the challenges in our lives. Be with us as we face challenges of each day. Help us learn from our challenges and let us become even closer to you. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
384 Love Divine, All Love’s Excelling http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh384.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God