How to Have a Flood of God-love

Tupelo Tornado, 2014    knowbefore.weatherbug.com

I continued my reading in Romans this morning and came to this passage, which I memorized as a young girl. 

“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Romans 5:3-5 NASB

This word, exult, is kauchaomai, and means to "glory in" or "rejoice in". This concept is so foreign to our culture that we would do well to consider it. We might say, "We rejoice because of our troubles and trials." 

Right. Who rejoices because of the trouble we face? 

Not many of us, but there is good reason to exult in trouble. Paul tells us that we are to rejoice because tribulation teaches us to endure and endurance brings about proven character. The proving of our character brings about hope. Hope, he says, never disappoints because of the love of God.

Rejoicing in our troubles begins a cascade of good into our lives that ends in the love of God flooding into our hearts.

The Tornado of 2014 brought about considerable devastation in our area. We wept over the terrible destruction, but we rejoiced, as well. Although "stuff" was lost, there was only one death. That which mattered most was preserved, and we celebrated that face. Before long,  a flood of God-love poured out through His people. 

You, like me, may find grumbling much easier than gratitude, but grumbling is not the path to blessing. 

Instead of whining and complaining about the difficulties in our lives, we are to thank God and rejoice because of what He will do through those difficulties. We can glory in them because we know He will use those trials to make us more like Him. 

Rejoicing in tribulation is not easy, but it opens up an opportunity for great blessing. 

I am speaking of the difficulties that come through no fault of our own. Those difficulties that come as a consequence of our own behavior and poor choices are also a source of rejoicing if we allow God to use them to change our behavior and refine us.

In a way, it is a great blessing to endure hard times because of the flood of God-love that is sure to follow.

I look back on every hard time, every loss I've ever faced. It was hard to give thanks in the midst of those times, but now I can see the hand of God at every juncture and the love of God carrying me through. He used the trial to make me more like Him. 

Are you going through a hard time? Take heart, dear ones, and rejoice, for when you do, you can be sure a flood of God-love is on its way. What could be better than that? Absolutely nothing.
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Thank you, God, for the hard times. Thank you for how you will bring us through, how you will change us because of them, how your love will be evident. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#loveofGod #rejoice #tribulation #JesusChrist #disciple

In case you missed the most recent posts, here are the links: The Costly Bad Attitude, Going Home, and Still a Sinner. 

The most-read post of the past week: Death is Not the End. 

Sending the Seventy: Part 26

The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." (Luke 10:17-20 NASB) 

(Note: this post is a continuation of part 23 and part 24 and part 25. You may want to read those before continuing with this post.)

Jesus had sent the seventy disciples out to teach and heal in the villages to which He was going.  They were not to take anything with them, but were totally dependent upon the hospitality offered in the places where they served. They returned after the trip, full of enthusiasm and bubbling over with joy. "Even the demons were subject to us in Your name!" they told Him. Jesus was as kind and encouraging as a proud daddy with a toddler taking his first steps. He told them that He had seen in the spiritual realm what they had seen in the physical. 

Metaphorically speaking, He had given them authority to "tread on serpents and scorpions". We saw yesterday that this did not mean to literally walk on snakes (nor handle them) but to participate with Christ in the fatal blow to the serpent's head foretold in Genesis 3:15 (and covered in part 24) "Nothing will injure you," He told them. We saw in part 25 that those who are obedient and following Christ can take comfort in the fact that the enemy cannot "injure" them by permanently wounding their faith.

We turn now to the last portion of this passage.

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven. Luke 10:20 NASB

We are to focus on the eternal life Christ offers and not on demon-bashing. It's a matter of perspective. The spirits are not really subject to "us". The spirits are subject to "us" only because of the name of Jesus. To have the right focus on our authority over demons, over healing, or any other kind of service, we need to keep our focus on the One who makes our service possible. Jesus Christ. 

We are not only to keep our focus on Jesus, but we are also to rejoice that our names are recorded in heaven. This, dear ones, should be a source of great joy for us, because the enemy of our soul has no power in heaven. He cannot erase our names that are recorded there, nor the name of anyone else that is already recorded in heaven. This is amazing news! When Jesus said that they could tread on the serpents and "nothing will injure you", He was not just talking about physical injury. No matter what tactic the enemy tries against our faith, he cannot change the fact that, for believers, our names are written in heaven. What a cause for rejoicing! 

As you go about your day, take heart, disciples of Christ. Your name is written in heaven. It is already written in heaven and nothing can change that fact. Rejoice in that truth. One day, as a follower of Christ, you will stand at the gates of heaven and find that your name is clearly written there. Those gates will swing open and you will enter eternity where our Savior lives and reigns forever, so rejoice now, as you await that glorious day. Rejoice!