Romans 5:3-5 - Building Character and Hope.
Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) We can rejoice, too, when
we run into problems and trials, for we know
that they help us develop endurance. 4 And
endurance develops strength of character, and
character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
5 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.
INTRODUCTION
We rejoice in suffering, not because we like
pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know God
is using lifes difficulties and Satans
attacks to build our character. The problems that we
run into will develop our perseverance"which
in turn will strengthen our character, deepen
our trust in God, and give us greater confidence
about the future. You probably find your patience
tested in some way every day. Thank God for those
opportunities to grow, and deal with them in his strength
(see also James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7). [Life
Application SB]
All three members of the Trinity are
involved in salvation. The Father loved us so much
that he sent his Son to bridge the gap between us
(John 3:16). The Father and the Son send the Holy
Spirit to fill our lives with love and to enable us
to live by his power (Acts 1:8). With all this
loving care, how can we do less than serve him
completely! [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Perfect Peace
The love of God has been poured out in
our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to
us. Romans 5:5
Years ago when I traveled to Europe to
preach, I liked to travel by sea to enjoy the five
days of relative quiet on the ship.
On one of my voyages Captain Anderson of
the United States took me down to see the ship's
gyroscope. He said, "When the sea is rough, the
gyroscope helps to keep the ship on an even keel.
Though the waves may reach tremendous proportions,
the gyroscope helps to stabilize the vessel and
maintain a high degree of equilibrium."
As I listened, I thought how like the
gyroscope is the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Let the
storms of life break over our heads. Let the enemy
Satan come in like a flood. Let the waves of
sorrow, suffering, temptation, and testing be
unleashed upon us. Our souls will be kept on an even
keel and in perfect peace when the Holy Spirit
dwells in our hearts. He comforts us with God's
abiding presence, and assures us that God's promises
are true.
The person who doubts is tossed about by
every storm that comes (James 1:6). The person of
faith, come what may, simply carries on. The Holy
Spirit makes all the difference in how we handle
lifes trials. [Hope for Each Day by Billy
Graham]
COMMENTARY
Jesus came to impart to the human soul the
Holy Spirit, by which the love of God is shed
abroad in the heart; but it is impossible to endow
men with the Holy Spirit, who are set in their
ideas, whose doctrines are all stereotyped and
unchangeable, who are walking after the traditions and
commandments of men, as were the Jews in the time of
Christ. They were very punctilious in the
observances of the church, very rigorous in following
their forms, but they were destitute of vitality
and religious devotion. They were represented by
Christ as like the dry skins which were then used
as bottles. The gospel of Christ could not be
placed in their hearts; for there was no room to
contain it. They could not be the new bottles into
which He could pour His new wine. Christ was
obliged to seek elsewhere than among the scribes and
the Pharisees for bottles for His doctrine of
truth and life. He must find men who were willing
to have regeneration of heart. He came to give
to men new hearts. He said, "A new heart also
will I give you." But the self-righteous of that
day and of this day feel no need of having a new
heart for they felt no need of a Saviour....
(Matt. 23:2-7, 23). 1SM386
God's law is fulfilled only as men love Him
with heart, mind, soul, and strength, and their
neighbor as themselves. It is the manifestation of
this love that brings glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace and good will to men. The
Lord is glorified when the great end of His law
is attained. It is the work of the Holy Spirit
from age to age to impart love to human hearts,
for love is the living principle of brotherhood.
Not one nook or corner of the soul is to be a
hiding place for selfishness. 8T139,140
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Romans 5:3-5 - Trials and Character
Development.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2012/20120718-2114.html
Romans 5:3-5 - Turning Trials Into Treasures.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200130-1138.html
Romans 5:3-5 - Hope Never Disappoints.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210702-0949.html
Romans 5:3-4 - Building Character and Hope.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220526-1017.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
