Joyful, Patient and Faithful

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12 (NIV)

Steps where Paul stood in the city of Berea, photo by Gabriele Cook

Steps where Paul stood in the city of Berea, photo by Gabriele Cook

Romans 12 has been my focus this week as I began preparing a women's Bible study for the last half of the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans. In the first half of Romans the great evangelist defines and defends the gospel and outlines essential doctrines of grace. With Romans 12, Paul turns his attention from Christian doctrine to Christian duty. But it's not duty that is designed to earn our salvation for we could never do that. Our salvation is totally based on Christ's finished atoning work on the cross. Paul is now writing, not of salvation, but of our sanctification, that process of progressive holiness whereby we are conformed more and more to the image of Christ. We will never find holiness perfection this side of heaven, but all true Christians should be showing signs of spiritual maturity and progress in growth. 

Our sanctification development begins with offering ourselves as a living sacrifice to God (12:1); not being conformed to the world's pattern of thinking (12:2); and instead being transformed or changed by renewing our mind with God's Word and Holy Spirit. From those three actions, Paul moves quickly to reminding the Romans Christians that while there is only one Body of Christ (the Church), there are many members within that oneness and each member is gifted with a spiritual gift. Think unity with diversity. Paul provides a partial, not exhaustive, spiritual gift inventory that includes:

  • prophecy (speaking forth God's Word)

  • Serving

  • Teaching

  • Encouraging

  • Giving

  • Leading 

  • Showing mercy

Paul's point throughout this section is two fold: first to show that within the unity of the Body (Church) of Christ there is diversity and secondly to encourage the Romans to use whatever spiritual gift has been given. Paul's challenge to the Roman Christians is his exhortation to us today. Use your gift, whatever it is, not just for your own sake, but also for the good of Christ's Church. As I worked down Paul's spiritual gift list, I noticed a shift in Paul's language beginning in Romans 12:8:

"If it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Reading through Romans 12:9-11, Paul's emphasizes not just WHAT to do, but HOW to do it. In just a few sentences Paul challenges us to:

  • generous giving

  • diligent leadership

  • cheerful mercy

  • sincere love

  • zealous service

  • joyful hope

  • patient affliction and

  • faithful prayer

It's fairly easy for me to read through Paul's first spiritual gift list and feel pretty good about myself for serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, and even leading in some small way. But looking at Paul's second list, I am convicted and challenged when I ask myself: 

Am I generous in my giving?

Am I diligent in my leadership?

Am I cheerful in my mercy?

Is my love sincere and my service zealous?

And what about my hope? Is it joyful?

Am I patient in affliction and faithful in prayer?

Honestly, Paul's last three exhortations seem particularly relevant during this season of trial and troubles. Covid-19, social distancing, a crashed economy, civil unrest, racial injustice, uncivil discourse, fear, and frustration all add up to a lot of affliction. The Greek word for "affliction" is "thlipsis" and it actually means "crushed with weight." And Paul's words to the Romans who were suffering (crushed with weight) under Emperor Nero were written for such a time as ours. As Christians we are all still called to be joyful in hope; patient in suffering; and faithful in prayer. None of us can live like that on our own. But all of us can- and should- live like that as we offer ourselves to God; don't think as the world thinks; and renew our minds with God's Word and Spirit.

So how about it? Are you joyful? Hopeful? Patient? Faithful? Prayerful? As I consider Paul's adjective "how" list and add it to his initial gift list, I realize just how far I have to go in actually being conformed to Christ's image. But God doesn't leave us alone in our sanctification journey. He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), His Word and Spirit. 

Let's take God at His Word. May each of us be joyful in hope; patient in affliction; and faithful in prayer for such a time as this.(Esther 4:14)

Amen and Amen,

Donna

DiscipleshipHolly HollonJoy, prayer, suffering