Today's Scripture:

Romans 5:1-11 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Read: Reflect on a story in your life that pertains to this scripture.
In Romans 5, Paul is describing the work of God reconciling us to Him through Christ’s death and resurrection and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and how that should give us joy and hope.

Reflect: What is this scripture telling you during this season?
Just as death and taxes are guaranteed in this life, so is suffering. Jesus said that the rain, floods, and wind would beat both the house built on sand and the one built on the rock (Mat. 7:24-27). The only difference is the nature of the sufferer. In today’s passage, the difference is spelled out; the Romans 5 sufferer is a person in peace with God through the perfect sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. The Romans 5 sufferers are filled with hope because they recognize that because Christ died for them, no suffering is in vain. On the contrary, it is like fire purifying them like gold. St. Augustin said “though good and bad men suffer alike, we must not suppose that there is no difference between the men themselves, because there is no difference in what they both suffer…For as the same fire causes gold to glow brightly, and chaff to smoke…thus it is that in the same affliction the wicked detest God and blaspheme, while the good pray and praise…For, stirred up with the same movement, mud exhales a horrible stench, and ointment emits a fragrant odor.” Our “goodness” does not come from ourselves but from God who demonstrated His love for us on the Cross. So, we can boast and glory in Him even in the midst of our mild suffering in comparison to His glory.

Respond: How is this scripture calling you to respond?
Romans 5 is not joyous because it paints us in a good picture, on the contrary, we were “enemies.” “Powerless.” “Sinners.” It's joyous because of what God did in Christ for us. Even if we are not spared from suffering, we suffer “right” when we remember that Christ died for us and “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17-18). Paul Tripp said, “Hardship in the hands of the Redeemer is a workshop of his grace.” The season of Lent, like Advent, is one of expectation, of waiting for what God will do and that hope in God will never disappoint.

About Ramon Gahona:
Husband to Rosmeli.
I have been on staff since 2017 serving Grace en Español and recently became a full-time staff member.