Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, to meditate my way through this whole passage is like standing in front of an open fire hydrant of grace. There’s so much encouragement, peace, and hope gushing at me, it’s hard to stand up.
For starters, thank you for already declaring me to be righteous in your sight. I’m not just forgiven, but also robed in the perfection of Jesus. I have peace with you now (and forever), only because you made your peace with me through the finished work of Jesus.
2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And now, I have perpetual access into your holy and joyful, welcoming and transforming presence. I’m no longer weighted down with guilt because I’m standing in your grace. I no longer fear the future and things I cannot control; I rejoice with hope, because I know one Day your glory will cover the earth, and you’ll finish making me like Jesus (Phil. 1:6; 1 John 3:1-3).
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Father, you even give me grace to rejoice in my sufferings, because in Christ, there don’t have to be any wasted sufferings. As you take me deeper into the riches of this gospel, free me more and more from my whining, complaining, and pouting. Increase my endurance in storylines that otherwise wear me down and use me up; transform my character to make me more like Jesus—especially his humility and kindness; and supersize my hope, lest I foolishly settle for some form of quick relief.
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Ah yes, Father, keep pouring more and more of your love into my heart, so there’ll be less and less room for shame, foolishness, anger, anxiety, pride, and a whole lot of others things that contradict the gospel. I am yours by grace; and you are mine by grace. It is enough. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ glorious and loving name.
