ROMANS UNWRAPPED 200

• "Rejoicing in hope"    Romans 12v12    -    This is bringing the glorious future for every Christian to bear on their present lives.   In scripture, hope is not some kind of wish for something better; it is a certain hope that will be fulfilled as sure as day follows night.   Paul has already in this epistle introduced this  "by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."    Romans 5v2.   He spoke about it further in chapter 8 verses 22-24.   In verse 25 of the same chapter he says  "but if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."   In that same chapter Paul has outlined three wonderful features of the hope of the Christian; the transformation of our mortal bodies Romans 8v11; the public manifestation of the sons of God Romans 8v19; the eternal changing of our character to be conformed to the image of God's Son Romans 8v29.   There are many portions of scripture describing this hope, notably Titus 2v13 "Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ."   Says Paul we are to be continually rejoicing in that hope, living in the good of it now; taking the sure and certain hope, as already ours, and living in the good of it now.   This is a huge subject in scripture and the early apostles lived in the good of it, including Paul, who says in 2nd Corinthian's 4v16  "for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."  
• "Patient in tribulation"   -   Romans 12v12    -    This word "tribulation" in scripture is not to be understood as "minor everyday problems" rather it should be seen as real serious challenges, real pressures, real stress.   Jesus said to His disciples  "In the world ye shall have tribulation."   John 16v33   The idea behind the word is more to do with putting to the test, rather than just normal troubles.   This testing will come from different sources and in different ways, but will be overseen by the Lord Himself ,   There is a two fold purpose in this testing; firstly to put our faith to the test, and secondly to wean us away from love of this world in favour of the next; so the two phrases side by side  "rejoicing in hope" and "patient in tribulation" are linked together.   This is God's way of bringing the future to bear on our present lives.   The desire for future glory is enhanced by the existence of present trials.   The word used for "patient" literally means  "bringing under" ; arraying yourself under the discipline of the trial knowing that God is doing a work within you through the trial.   The same idea is found in James 4v7  where it says  "submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.    Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you."       Peter speaks of the trial of your faith, which though brings to us great heaviness in life, it will result in ultimate good.   The writer to the Hebrews takes up this aspect when he says that the Father chastens all His sons for their good and two appeals are made in this connection; firstly, despise not the chastening of the Lord; and secondly, be not weary of His correction.   In this way believers are to bring themselves under submission to the Lord's dealings with them in life, thus benefiting here and now and taking hold of future glory.  
• "Continuing instant in prayer"    -    Romans 12v12    -    Here Paul brings before us one of the great resources of the Christian life, namely the ability to bring everything in our lives before the Lord in petition, in supplication, in intercession.   People are excited if they are privileged enough to meet a famous person face to face and have a discussion with them.   All Christians are granted the ultimate privilege of coming daily into the presence of God and bringing the issues of their lives before Him.    Surely there is no greater occupation than this and should be embraced as a daily practice by all believers.   We are to pray without ceasing; incredibly, the Lord makes time for all of us, our prayers rise to Him like a sweet odour ( Revelation 8v3-4) no prayer is unheard, no prayer is unanswered, although it may not be answered in the way we might expect but will be answered according to the will of God.   This practice of bringing everything to God, no matter how trivial, is to become a constant daily exercise with all of us.   Well did the hymn writer pen these words  "Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer."    Paul writing to the Philippian believers said  "be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."   Philippians 4v6   There is nothing too big we can bring, there is nothing too small, He will hear it all.   The idea of continuing instant in prayer suggests there should be a constant communication with the Lord, rather like a hot line that is kept open permanently.   Scripture encourages us to have daily times of prayer, but this aspect points to immediate access to God's presence exactly when we need it.   This principal is illustrated in Nehemiah 2v4 -5, when in a time of crisis he stood before king Artaxerxes, and it is written  "so I prayed to the God of heaven, and I said unto the king."  This was an occasion that demanded an instant answer.   We live in a day when everything has to happen immediately; instant coffee, instant tea, instant news reporting, instant answers to texts etc. etc.   Christians have this great privilege of instant communication with the Lord which is surely the greatest thing on earth and we should be living in the good of it.