Words of life from 7.08.2011 – 21.08.2011

Word of life: “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.” Rom 5:2b-4

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Ephphatha!” (Be opened!) “I am self-willed. I am a hedonist. I am a critic.

“Maran atha!” (Come, O Lord!) “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, have mercy on me!” (5?)

“Shema” (Hear), “(name), love God! Jesus, my God, I love You with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my strength. Now I lose my soul for Your sake and the Gospel’s.”

The Word of life: (a verse from the Holy Scripture for 14 days; repeated 3?)

“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.” Rom 5:2b-4

“From this moment I do everything + in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (3?)

Studying this verse from God’s Word, let us focus on two principal questions:

1) Which truth (word) is emphasized in this verse?

2) What connection does it have with other verses of this chapter?

What is emphasized?

Hope. The worst thing is when people say: “I’ve lost all hope.” The contrary of hope is hopelessness and despair. Many people have false hopes, but we have true hope anchored in God’s promise. We have hope, yet this hope is full assurance of eternal life in Jesus Christ. This eternal life embraces happiness and glory that never ends – the glory of heaven. This hope gives us the light as well as the strength to go through sufferings and have our fruit in eternity. Therefore we can rejoice even in suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.

Practical application:

In time of suffering, try to place your hope in Jesus Christ, and think of eternal glory at least for a while.