Scripture
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
Romans 8:18-19
Observation
Paul reveals the way through our present sufferings is an expectant hope of Christ’s return for His people. This is coupled with the fact that God's purposes will be revealed through our suffering as He is present with us in them. Now, I know this doesn't sound like an adventure, but it really is because we get a front row seat watching how God turns this mess into miracle. It’s kind of like a Christmas tree that is dark in the night and, all of a sudden, lighting up the sky when the lights that were wrapped around inside are plugged in. It's in the darkest places God's glory is revealed. This is actually what Advent is all about. "The season of Advent is recognized as the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas Day. Advent comes from a Latin word meaning “coming” or “arrival.” It has become the season of waiting and anticipation of the Coming of Christ. However, the Coming of Christ not only refers to the Christ-Child born in a manger, but also the anticipation of the 2nd Coming of Christ. This dual meaning has been celebrated since the 6th century." Suffering is the last thing we want to think about when it comes to Christmas and yet this is resident within the first Christmas story. A man who has not yet wed his bride is now a father. A woman who has not yet wed is now a mother and all of the shame that comes with that. Taxation is driving this man and this full term woman back to his home town where there is no room to stay. Shepherds and strangers from a foreign country show up uninvited. Then, they find themselves on the run because King Herod is killing all of the boys 2 years old and younger. Now they are separated from family and friends in Egypt. You don’t hear a lot about the suffering element of the Christmas story in the carols, but this is what Paul is talking about. The adventure of faith is believing that somehow, someway, our Savior will take these disrupted plans, and painful changes, and points of death and hardship and reveal His glory through them. In fact, Paul points to the birth of Jesus a few verses later as proof that Jesus is our model of hope. His first coming is proof of His second coming and this is our hope in this midst of the hurt. “28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:28-29)
Application
It’s Thursday, December 1st. As our Life Group journals in Starbucks the Christmas music is playing. It’s the only time of year you will hear a song about Jesus in this place and is much preferred to what they’re normally blasting. The cups of coffee are festooned with red, green and white designs. I remember this time of year as a barista. Though everything seems merry it was actually pretty scary. Everyone is stressed as they cram their schedules with twice as much to do. All of this is done under the pressure of making the mundane magical. Yet, no matter how much whipped cream we put on the Peppermint Mocha it never helped to ease the pain. What if, instead of pretending the pain and suffering isn’t there, we do what Paul is leading us to do and we invite the presence of Christ into the suffering? Our hope in this season is never going to be found under the tree, but rather at His feet. What if, as Christians, we modeled a real celebration of Advent by inviting people to our perpetual hope? This is the true adventure of faith. Where we just crazy enough to believe that God can and will work this recession, this sickness, this surgery, this marital friction into something good that will bring Him glory. If God could do it with the first Christmas he can sure do it with this one.
Prayer
Lord, I know so many going through so many hardships right now. You aren’t standing outside of this, but are wanting to be invited into the middle of it. You are Emmanuel, God with us! We are going to look with expectant hope at how you want to redeem this present suffering for Your glory. In the middle of this pain You are revealing the purpose for which we are here- to give You glory and enjoy You forever!
Commenti