"The Persistent One"
Romans 5:1-5
By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us – set us right with Him, make us fit for Him – we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us! We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand – out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary - we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
You know, I just think about myself way too much when I read the Scripture. Somehow, I usually make it all about me. After reading this section, and linking it with Sunday’s Sermon about the Persistent Widow, I immediately began to think to myself, “don’t give up, don’t give up, be like the widow, be persistent, try harder, pray harder.” And I realized I was making this section all about me – and what I should try to do – and then what a wonderful person that would make me. I was reminded of the book of James and his section about being persistent, and to persevere. James carried the nickname “Old Camel Knees” because of thick calluses built up on his knees from many years of determined prayer. Now, how cool would that be, (I thought to myself) to be such a persistent person of prayer that people would think so highly of me!
Yes, the widow was persistent. Yes, God is giving us a wonderful example in this parable to be like her. I am not downplaying the importance of being persistent in prayer like the widow. However, today when I re-read the parable and this section from Romans, I am not focused on the Persistent Widow – but I am marveling about our Persistent God! With me! With us! He is the Hero of this story. It’s all about Him and His faithfulness and persistence and perseverance of never giving up on me! He is there – waiting for me – He has never left – He is the persistent One!
We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us!
Isn’t that just amazingly beautiful? And Reassuring! I am SURE that I will fail at being persistent enough! I know that I will wander. But He does not wander. He is always there, persistently waiting on me.
We can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Thank You, God – for being the Persistent One! I love You. And I thank You so very much for always being there for me. I cannot even hold all the love You generously pour into me.
-dawn