The God Pause in The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 14 June 2017 - Romans 5:1-8

The God Pause in The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 14 June 2017 - Romans 5:1-8
Romans 5:1 So, since we have come to be considered righteous by God because of our trust, let us continue to have shalom with God through our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. ² Also through him and on the ground of our trust, we have gained access to this grace in which we stand; so let us boast about the hope of experiencing God’s glory. ³ But not only that, let us also boast in our troubles; because we know that trouble produces endurance, ⁴ endurance produces character, and character produces hope; ⁵ and this hope does not let us down, because God’s love for us has already been poured out in our hearts through the Ruach HaKodesh who has been given to us.⁶ For while we were still helpless, at the right time, the Messiah died on behalf of ungodly people. ⁷ Now it is a rare event when someone gives up his life even for the sake of somebody righteous, although possibly for a truly good person one might have the courage to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in that the Messiah died on our behalf while we were still sinners. [Complete Jewish Bible]

-------
Look what happens when the Lord comes near! St. Paul understood the blessings of God as the gift of peace. When God comes near, this peace fills the soul so that despite the brokenness of our world, people of faith can stand justified and confident in God's grace. When the Lord is near, we can discover that our sin does not alienate us from God. Instead, God proves God's love for us in that Christ died for us even when we were still sinners. When God comes near, we can stand forgiven and filled with peace because we know that the sufferings of this world will ultimately lead us through endurance to character to the certain hope that Jesus wants to hold us near always.
Lord God, forgive me the sins of this day and lead me to your gift of hope. Please, Lord, continue to pour your love into me through the gift of the Holy Spirit that I may know your peace. Amen.
Betsy Dartt, '81
Pastor, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Spring Valley, Minn.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
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.
3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
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.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.
8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. [New Revised Standard Version]The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
-------