Daily Devotional

-May 3, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-Looking To The Lord When All Else Is Crumbling Around Us-

“Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.”

(Romans 12:12).

Paul’s familiar pattern in his epistles is to cover doctrine first then practice. Romans is no exception. In the last four chapters 12-16, he speaks of practical Christian living. In particular, Romans 12:9-13 is titled, “Behave Like A Christian.” It involves how we treat each other as believers.

Today’s text is the key to putting the rest of passage into practice since it directed toward the Lord. There are three qualities we need in abundance: hope, patience, and steadfastness. We cannot be victorious without all three.

• Rejoicing in hope – Hope looks to the future. Paul tells us to not just have hope but to have it joyfully. Praise God our hope goes beyond this world and into eternity. Paul was able to see beyond his present circumstances and this caused his heart to rejoice in the Lord even Ashe sat in prison for his faith in Christ. In Philippians 4:4 he says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice.” Are you rejoicing in the Lord today? Our attitude determines our gratitude!

• Patient in tribulation – Patience is so important as we wait upon the Lord. Often we want the Lord to work at a faster speed than He is working. We fail to understand God’s plans and purposes. He is never in a hurry. James 1:2-4 tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Trials produce patience. Job, and so many others in Scripture, experienced this for themselves.

• Continuing steadfastly in prayer – We must pray and keep on praying. Steadfastness is holding on no matter what happens to us. One of my favorite lines of the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” says, “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” Prayer is our lifeline and how we communicate with the Lord and seek His help and guidance.

Let us then rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and steadfast in prayer. David wrote in Psalm 57:1, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.” We can face anything with the Lord, but nothing without Him!

Have a blessed day in hope, patience, and steadfastness. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean