Setting Your Sights on Success
St. Paul explains it from his perspective From Romans 5: 1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. 9 Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
We all have our own definition of success. Some count it by the amount in the bank, wallet, or purse. Others by accumulation of material possessions or goods. Some by the joy received in doing the job they've always wanted. Paul saw success as being in relationship with God. Success is having peace. Peace comes from the knowledge that inner strength will see us through anything. And seeing us through anything will bring us a share of the glory of God. Even in the face of suffering comes that peace. Paul sets out a formula of sorts for this success: First, comes suffering in whatever form it may present itself to us. Moving forward and positively through suffering brings us endurance. Endurance brings us character. Character produces hope, the kind that does not disappoint because God has poured God's love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. At that low point of knowing that our sin had separated us from God, God gave us the news that Jesus died for us, which brought us justification, meaning we have been made right and accepted by God when we were, for all practical purposes, unacceptable. God's love is that amazing that we will are made right when we have been wrong. We have been lifted up when we have fallen down. We've been given a helping hand when we felt we were alone and not able to do anything.
The photo I have shared this morning speaks to my heart of that formula. The young woman is being pinned by the associate dean of the nursing school. The pin she is receiving is recognition that she will be, once all state exams are complete, a registered nurse. That young woman is my daughter, whose faith had allowed her to reach this even while enduring some trying times that would have made others give up. Her faith is strong. She has endurance. She has character. And she possesses a hope that nothing can defeat. And since she has been a child she entered into a relationship with God through Christ. And that, dear friends, is available to all who seek and receive that.
Are you feeling weak and alone? You're not either. Feeling like you have nothing to offer to others? Through Christ's love you can have the character that will bless others, and you will share with a world lost in the darkness of hopelessness, the bright light of God's power to see us all through so many things. And the good news? It is ours for the asking.
PRAYER: LOVING God, speak to my heart. Grant to me that which I need; I seek strength and hope in what I have experienced; and above all I desire the love you offer to us. This I ask in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
