“NOT FOR OUR COMFORT”
OUR DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
READ: Romans 5:1–11
MEMORY VERSE
“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3–4
BACKGROUND
Dan was riding his motorcycle when a car swerved into his lane and pushed him into oncoming traffic. When he woke up two weeks later in the trauma center, he was “a mess.”
Worst of all, he suffered a spinal cord injury that left him a paraplegic. Dan prayed for healing, but it never came. Instead, he believes God has compassionately taught him that “the purpose of this life is that we become conformed to the image of Christ.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen when everything is unicorns and rainbows. It . . . happens when life is tough. When we’re forced to rely upon God through prayer just to make it through the day.”
The apostle Paul explained two benefits of right standing with God: persevering and rejoicing in suffering (Romans 5:3–4). These two benefits weren’t a call to endure suffering with stoic fortitude or to find pleasure in pain.
It was an invitation to unshakable confidence in God. Suffering plus Christ cultivates “perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (vv. 3–4). This all flows from a faith that the Father won’t abandon us but will walk with us through the fire and into the future.
God meets us in our suffering and helps us grow in Him. Rather than viewing afflictions as His disfavor, may we look for ways He’s using them to sharpen and build our character as we experience His love “poured out into our hearts” (v. 5).
By: Marvin Williams
INSIGHT
Reconciliation restores those who’ve been alienated. Paul uses the word reconcile more than any other New Testament author, often multiple times in a passage; for example, he uses it three times in Romans 5:10–11.
He also uses it in Romans 11:15, 2 Corinthians 5:18–19, and 1 Corinthians 7:11 (related to human reconciliation).
Today’s passage highlights the necessity of Jesus’ death for our reconciliation to God. But that isn’t the end. Our reconciliation through His death leads to our salvation through His life.
Paul writes, “How much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10). He says that both the death of Jesus and His resurrected life are necessary to our salvation.
APPLICATION
What needs to change in your heart and mind for you to handle suffering in Jesus’ strength? What’s one practical way you can persevere through and rejoice in challenges this week?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“Any discussion of how pain and suffering fit into God’s scheme ultimately leads back to the cross.” Philip Yancey
“…When we are most satisfied with God in suffering, He will be most glorified in us in worship…When we embrace more affliction for the worth of Christ, there will be more fruit in the worship of Christ.” John Piper
Friedrich Nietzsche, the controversial ethicist and philosopher publicized the ancient belief that to see others suffer is good, to make others suffer even (better).
I say: To see others suffer and not do anything about it, is inhumane; To be the cause of others’ suffering is sadistic; To attempt to soothe others’ suffering is Christlike – pr
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (My Re-Emphasis from Post)
“God meets us in our suffering and helps us grow in Him.”
PRAYER
“Jesus, may I find hope and joy in You as You provide what I need.”
*YOUR TAKE? 
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL
“GLORY TO COME” Psallos
The world is fraught with pain
Sin has left a grievous sting
Will we ever see relief
Is there hope in suffering?
Creation groans
with the sons of flesh and bone
Lord redeem us from this curse of corruption
Hold fast a day will dawn
when glory will be shown
Far outweighing pain and woe
We all wait that glorious day
When full redemption comes
with the rising of the risen Son
We hope and we have seen
Waiting for impatiently
Who will help us while we pray
When we don’t know what to say
The Spirit groans for
The sons the Father knows
Intercedes when we are weak
Gives us hope in suffering
Hold fast a day will dawn
when glory will be shown
Far outweighing pain and woe
We all wait that glorious day
When full redemption comes
with the rising of the risen Son
Ooooooo
Ooooooo…
The Lord conforms us to His Son
For everyone He’s called He works good in all
For known predestined called in Christ
And also justified
And those He justifies
He also glorifies
Yes if we suffer Christ
We will also be glorified
Yes, Yes…
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (THIS WEEK)
THE BOOK OF JUDGES 15-21
PSALMS 15-21