A Broke Evangelist

November 3, 2024

Romans 5:3-5

Blockchain "Scriptocurrency"

“3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

So, yesterday, it took me a while to get through the first two verses of this chapter! I didn’t realize there was so much to get out of a couple of verses. Sure, I’ve been a believer long enough to know that there are pastors out there who can take “Jesus wept” and make a four-week series out of those two words, but I was amazed that I could get so much out of it. Needless to say, this will take a few days to get through, and I’ve planned for it. My goal is to get through a chapter each week, which would get us through the 100 Most Important Chapters of the Bible in two years, save for anything out of the ordinary, like me dying suddenly. Not in my plans for a while, so I think, God willing (I’d be good to add that), I’ll be here for a while!

What can we learn in the next three verses, Romans 5:3-5? Let’s find out!

Romans 5:3 - Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

At this point in his message, Paul knows some people are accusing him of being too “pie in the sky in the sweet by and by.” Who could blame them? They’re looking for “help on the ground while they’re still around!” It’s easy to feel like the Christian hope is only for some far-off future, but Paul is quick to set the record straight: “Yes, we face tough times now, but there’s actually something to celebrate in those, too.”

And he’s not just sugar-coating things. When he talks about sufferings, he actually uses the word *tribulations.* This isn’t about the small stuff — like waiting forever for your coffee order or getting stuck in traffic when you’re already late. Paul’s talking about the serious, heavy stuff we face because of our faith. And, as we know from his life, Paul wasn’t just talking the talk — he was walking the walk.

If there’s a bright side to what Paul’s saying, it’s that suffering builds perseverance! It’s like if you’re a bit out of shape (not pointing fingers… just sitting here at my desk, typing…) — you’re not going to start a fitness journey by running a marathon tomorrow. Honestly, I’d be thrilled to run one within the next 24 years! Right now, a marathon for me looks more like a trip to the mailbox. But hang with me — when we think about how athletes train, how soldiers prepare for battle, or how salespeople get ready for a big pitch, it’s clear that groundwork is essential for handling the tough stuff ahead: the race, the fight, or the close.

It may sound wild, but a tribulation-free Christian life isn’t really what we should want. Here’s why: God can use tribulation in powerful ways; He knows exactly how much we can handle and measures it carefully; and we’re not the only ones going through it — non-believers face tough times too. Charles Spurgeon once put it perfectly: “A Christian man should be willing to be tried; he should be pleased to let his religion be put to the test. ‘There,’ says he, ‘hammer away if you like.’ Do you want to be carried to heaven on a feather bed?” That’s like praying one of those bold prayers, “Bring on whatever You’ve got for me, Lord!” — not for the faint of heart!

I’ll admit, I’m still not exactly thrilled about those big, bold prayers — I’m working on it! Thinking of Peter, who confidently declared he’d follow Jesus anywhere, always made me hesitate. I worried that following God might mean wading through monsoon waters as a missionary in Bangladesh or trekking to remote Tibetan villages, only to live as an outsider and reach maybe one person every five years. But here’s the comforting part: God has plenty of challenges for us to overcome, right where we are.

Romans 5:4 - perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

These three virtues are an amazing chain of growth, where each virtue builds upon another as we follow Jesus’ example.

If we’re real with ourselves and honest, most of us want stronger character and a deeper sense of hope. But here’s the rub: these qualities grow out of perseverance, and perseverance only develops through facing trials. Sure, it’d be nice if we could skip over the hard stuff and just magically become people of solid character and boundless hope, or; if God could just sprinkle perseverance, character, and hope over me while I’m asleep. What a great deal—waking up each morning a little more patient and hopeful, without an effort! But that’s not His approach for me or for any of us. So, I have to take a deep breath and say, “Okay, Lord, bring it on. I know You love me, that You measure each trial carefully, and that every hardship has a purpose. I won’t go looking for trouble, but when challenges come, I won’t shy away or lose hope. I trust Your love in everything You allow.”

Romans 5:5 - And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

The hope that grows in us through facing trials is a hope that won’t let us down. We can be confident in this because God has shown His commitment to completing His work in each of us — and the proof is His love, poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Every one of us needs moments like this, where we feel a deep, inner sense of God’s love for us.

Paul’s message in Romans is not just hard truth; it’s also filled with passion and real experience. He doesn’t just want us to think the right things about God; he wants us to personally experience God’s love, poured out into our hearts. And speaking of pouring, God’s love doesn’t come to us one drip at a time. It’s poured out abundantly! Sometimes, we act as if we’re only getting a few drops, but God wants us to feel His full outpouring as He shares His love with us through the Holy Spirit. When we’re not feeling that love, it’s often because we’re not staying filled with or walking in the Spirit consistently.

As Spurgeon (this guy was the GOAT, or at least one of them) said, “The love of God is like light to a blind eye until the Holy Ghost opens that eye… may the Holy Spirit now be here in each one of us, to shed abroad the love of God in our hearts.” Every Christian has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), but not all of us are living fully in the Spirit’s presence (Ephesians 5:18), nor are we all consistently walking in step with the Spirit (Romans 8:4-5). Imagine how much more we could experience if we opened ourselves to the fullness of the Spirit!

We are starting to put together our own spiritual blockchain that is way more valuable than Bitcoin or anything similar—let’s call it “scriptcurrency” with compounding growth!

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 3, 2024

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