This will make you stronger

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sound doctrine, strong faith”

Our Bible verse for today: “And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces character, and proven character produces hope.” Romans 5:3-4 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “This will make you stronger”

In Romans chapter five the Apostle Paul is pointing out four benefits we accrue as the result of having sound doctrine that leads to strong faith. So far, we have learned that we get peace with God and we get direct access to God. Today we find that we also receive strength to face the trials of life. Tomorrow we will learn about the hope we have for both this life and for the next.

Now that we are at peace with God and now that we are using our direct access to Him, we discover that this relationship with God makes us strong – especially in our times of trials and adversity. Essentially what Paul is saying here is that God uses the difficult times in our lives to make us stronger. This is the same principle behind strength training with weights. This is why doctors encourage us to not only watch our diet and to get regular exercise, but to make sure some of our exercise includes resistance training. When we lift weights, our muscles endure stress and strain. But that stress and straining serves to make the muscles stronger. So, in that sense, the resistance created by the weight is good for us – we are better and stronger for having endured it and pushed back against it.

Challenges and trials in life serve the same purpose and achieve the same results. Tough times force us to try harder and to push past the resistance that challenge creates. That makes us stronger and better. It is in that sense that Paul means it here. The lesson is that if we are in right relationship with God, and if we are allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us through the difficulties we face, then God will use those difficulties to further develop our Christian character.

The Apostle James wrote about this too in James 1:2-4: “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

Now, Paul and James are not teaching that we should be glad that we just got laid off from work; or that this angry person is standing in front of us yelling and cursing; or that we suddenly discover that we have a serious illness. I don’t know about you but it’s unlikely that I would be standing there thinking, “Hey, this is great. Good for me!” But what if we were to approach situations like that with the thought, “Lord, I’m really discouraged that I just got laid off, and I am concerned about it. But I know that you are the God of all provision and that you are my protector and provider, so through this I want to learn to trust you even more.” That’s a good attitude. You will still have to go out and find another job, but with that attitude you will end up with greater trust in God and a stronger faith in Him.

That’s the kind of mindset that both Paul and James were writing about, and it involves using our challenges in life to make us even better and stronger as a man or woman of God. When you are in right relation with God, and you have peace with God, and you are using your full, unrestricted access to the throne of God, you suddenly discover that you have a strength you never had before. Sound doctrine does indeed lead us to strong faith.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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