Value!

Value!

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:3‭-‬5 KJV

The Inspiration:

There is no better teacher than personal experience. The values you hold and the lessons you share are very personal, and they stay with you no matter where you go. Faith in God opens all other doors that God would have me walk through, and it is by salvation, which is the work Jesus does in me by faith in Him that is key to this verse. I will not survive the pressure of this world without the help of the One who created everything and I can't access the unlimited supply of God's grace without total surrender to God. This means that before I start to claim all these precious promises, I must be sure that my life can attract these promises. By faith in Jesus, there is hope born in me that I will reign with Christ at the end of my earthly life. But as I wait for this eternal phase to become a reality, I must be tested, so that the quality and depth of my convictions will be known and proven. 

The Contention:

It is good to fix my gaze on the eternal but I must not forget to live in the present. The benefits of trials and tough times are not seen in the immediate but they are fundamental to my growth process. If I want God's perfect work to be manifest in me, I must learn patience. God is never in a hurry to bring me to His desired end, and He will do all He can to make me complete and perfect in Him. God's process of completion and perfection usually lies in the path of trials and tough times. What they do is to push me to keep trusting in God, even when doing so seems foolish. Imagine Daniel before and after the lions' den experience; his confidence in God would have been deepened, and nothing else in the future would faze him. Imagine Stephen being stoned to death for standing for God. For each man, the process was different, but the end was the same: hope in God never disappoints.

The Conclusion:

Tribulations teach patience; patience leads to experience, and experience strengthens hope. Hope in God can never lead to shame, because God does not disappoint. He does not do things the way we expect, but if indeed I have surrendered to Him, I must let Him work as He desires. He has given me the assurance that He knows what He is doing. I must trust His presence and power in me, which is confirmed by His Holy Spirit given to me, and I can trust His process, procedure and timing. Every thing He does on my journey in life will work toward that good end He has promised. His love just will not let go; there is no close alternative down here that can sufficiently describe His heart of love for me. Would I trust Him to work that which is His perfect will for me? Can I hold on to Him, even when every other thing around me is falling to pieces? God's time of favour is here.