“WE REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS!”

Romans 5:1-5                                         (ESV)
“1 Therefore, since we have been JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, we have peace with GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
2 Through HIM we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD.
3 Not only that, but “WE REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS”, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD's love has been poured into our hearts through the HOLY SPIRIT who has been given to us.”

When Ananias was instructed by JESUS to go find Saul/Paul, HE told Ananias that “For I (JESUS) will show him (Paul) how much he must SUFFER for the sake of MY name” in Acts 9:16.  JESUS didn’t tell Ananias that HE would cause Paul to be the pastor of the largest church in Jerusalem, or even a small church in the country?  JESUS had a Plan and Paul would be used to Glorify THE NAME OF JESUS!

We have to be JUSTIFIED BY FAITH before we can be SANCTIFIED through our sufferings.  One commentary puts it in these words::

The Greek word translated "sanctification" (hagiasmos [aJgiasmov"]) means "holiness." To sanctify, therefore, means "to make holy." In one sense only God is holy ( Isa 6:3 ). God is separate, distinct, other. No human being or thing shares the holiness of God's essential nature. There is one God. Yet Scripture speaks about holy things. Moreover, God calls human beings to be holy — as holy as He is holy ( Lev 11:44 ; Matt 5:48 ; 1 Peter 1:15-16 )

GOD calls us to be HOLY!  But we are ALL sinners, saved by JESUS.  The only thing we can Glory in is that some of us have been JUSTIFIED BY FAITH in the LIFE of JESUS!  SUFFERING for HIM doesn’t save us.  That is done by FAITH IN JESUS.   SUFFERING draws us into a greater relationship with JESUS, TRUSTING HIM more as we Spiritually mature, or GROW more HOLY!

Like Saul/Paul, we must understand that when “WE REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS” that we are Glorifying JESUS and HIS Kingdom.  That SHOULD be our main objective.  We should not desire to have the largest bank account, or the biggest sanctuary, or whatever “this world” sees as a success!  Rather we should COUNT IT ALL JOY (James 1:2-4) when “WE REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS” as we are being used by the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES for HIS GLORY!