For the past few months, I’ve been immersed in the book of Romans. I love this book, and it intimidates me all at the same time. It is deep and rich with wisdom and theology. Some days, I feel as if I’m just scratching the surface, and other days, it’s as if I’m in the deep end. You know what I mean?
This week, I found myself in Romans 12, and while there is MUCH to be found within that chapter alone, I parked on just one verse.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
Just three things. Three commands. Three instructions. Three invitations.
Let’s take one at a time.
The first: Rejoice in hope. In what ways has the Lord deposited hope into your life? Within the past year? The past month? This past week? Today? For what do you have to be grateful? How has God been at work in, through, and around you that has ushered hope into your life, and how are you rejoicing in Him because of it? Rejoice in the hope you have been given! Sing His praises. Testify to all that He has done. Translation? Start using your mouth for what it was made for—to bring God glory! Tell others what He has done. Tell yourself! Rejoice in hope.
The second: Be patient in tribulation. This one is hard, y’all. Allow me to be the first one to say that patience, especially in hardship, is difficult. But God always has a purpose in our pain. He has specific intentions for us in the waiting. While we wait for Him to show up and come through for us in our own “tribulations”, let’s choose to be faithful in the waiting. Let’s do good while we wait. Let’s trust that the God who spoke all that we can see into existence also has His hand on the thermostat of our fiery trial, and He will not let us get burned. Be patient in tribulation.
The third: Be constant in prayer. I can’t get enough of this one! Pray without ceasing. What does this mean? What would this look like? Have we ever even thought to ask God to show us how this is done? I think that should be our first step towards this pursuit of being found on our knees. “Jesus, teach us what it means and what it looks like to be constant in prayer. And give us a heart for prayer.” To be constant in prayer implies an insatiable desire to commune with Jesus. Do we desire Him that much? Do we long for His presence that much? Be constant in prayer.
Just three things, friends. Just three commands. Just three instructions. Just three beautiful invitations.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
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