JOY, PATIENCE AND FAITHFULNESS
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer”
Romans 12:12
I want to begin by letting you know that you have been “the church” to my family and me recently. From the gifts, food, calls and love, you have demonstrated why God set up the church. He organized the church for many reasons, but you have shown me the support that only the church can give. Thank you. This past month and a half has been a very difficult time in my life. Things that have come my way have made me really stop and think about how, as a Christian, I should act and respond to the circumstances God allows to happen. The example you have set is right out of scripture. In Romans 12, Paul is speaking to the Body of Christ and instructing them on how the righteousness they have in Christ should be practiced. There should be a distinct difference between God’s people and the world. Love needs to be the over-riding theme as we interact with people and respond to adversity.
In Romans 12:9-13, Paul gets down to the specifics of love. He begins by saying that “love must be sincere.” Christian love is not merely something we say, but it is something we do. Your love to my family and me is being played out through all that you do for us; not only by what you say. Paul goes on in verse 10 to say that we need to be devoted to one another. This devotion should be seen no matter what the circumstance whether good or bad. Verse 11 talks about the passion we should have as we serve the Lord. An example of this verse is what you all did on Palm Sunday evening and Easter Sunday morning. You showed the church your zeal for the Lord and your passion to worship Him. Even in adversity, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can have an enthusiasm in serving our King. Paul tells us in verse 12 that we are to “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” The certainty of the Christian’s hope should be cause for joy. Our hope is the blessed assurance of our future destiny and is based on God’s love. WOW! That should bring a smile to your face. We are then to be patient in affliction. It is a great testimony to a lost world that while you are going through affliction and trials, you are able to maintain your faith and trust in God. Your response to this very concept can either draw people to Christ or turn them away. The last part of verse 12 tells us to be faithful in our prayers. It is so easy and natural during difficult times in our life to pray, but we often become slack in good times. One must not only pray in hard times, but also maintain communion with God through prayer at all times. Therefore, choose you this day how you will love and serve others. Will you serve others with a sacrificial love or will you honor yourself above others?
Humbled by the Love that you have demonstrated,
Aaron Hodges
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