July 9, 2003
Reading: Romans 5:1-5

 

“The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (5)

 

A good friend of mine wished to improve the stamina of his already athletic body, so he joined a health and fitness club. He purchased a one year membership and the next day showed up at the center at 6:00 AM. The fitness center offered everything from free weights to a mineral Jacuzzi, and his membership entitled him to use all the equipment. Three days after he joined, he had to go out of town on business, and it was three weeks later that he again visited the fitness center. The next day he got busy and did not return to the center for a couple of months. His visits became very spasmodic and soon the membership ran out. He spoke to the manager and explained that he had purchased a one-year membership but had only visited five times and could he get an extension without purchasing another membership? The manager told him “No,” and that the center was open every day and it was his own fault that he did not take advantage of the benefits of membership more often.

This story is a tragic commentary on the lives of many Christians. We are told that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:3), yet how many of us experience these blessings to their fullest? David wrote concerning the benefits God has bestowed on us, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits” (Ps 68:19). This is not a membership that needs to be renewed every year; God daily loads us with benefits!

Consider the benefits mentioned in our reading: Because we have been justified by faith (an enormous benefit in itself), we have “peace with God”. This peace is ours to enjoy, yet how frequently we allow stress and unrest to prevail in our lives. We also “have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand”. Some of us handle spiritual problems the same way we try to assemble a kids bicycle – when all else fails, read the directions! Instead, when all else fails, turn to God. How foolish of us when immediate access to God is one of the benefits we have.

Another benefit from God is that we can “rejoice in hope of the glory of God”. This is one of the greatest of benefits. While it is wonderful what God has done for us now, and is deserving of all our praise, that which is to come, that which He is preparing for us, is far better. We will be where pain, stress, temptation and trials are non-existent. We will see Jesus face to face and be in His presence forever. This is the benefit of hope--not the hope of ‘maybe,’ but the hope of assurance and knowing.

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations” How unnatural is that? The natural reaction to tribulation is to whine, cry, and complain, but we have been justified by faith. “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit”, and He gives us the benefit of God’s strength and enables us to see beyond the trials.

The most important truth of all is that every benefit given to us by God comes “through our Lord Jesus Christ”. We receive nothing from God except it comes through His Son.

“What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people” (Ps 116:12-14).

May the Holy Spirit enable us to utilize every benefit He has given us in Jesus. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Ps 103:2).