Overflowing Love of God by the Spirit in Sufferings

February 5, 2013 - Romans 5:3-5

5:3		不 但 如 此 、 就 是 在 患 難 中 、 也 是 歡 歡 喜 喜 的 ． 因 為 知 道 患 難 生 忍 耐 ．
5:4		忍 耐 生 老 練 ． 老 練 生 盼 望 ．
5:5		盼 望 不 至 於 羞 恥 ． 因 為 所 賜 給 我 們 的 聖 靈 、 將 　 神 的 愛 澆 灌 在 我 們 心 裡 。

³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Sufferings are seen as cursing in human's eyes but Paul proclaims that they can be glory for people of God if they are empowered by the love of God through the Holy Spirit. Paul pictures the love of God as being poured out by the Holy Spirit into our hearts, like a picture of a cup being overflowed with water as one continues to pour the water into the cup without ceasing. Sufferings within the unceasing and overflowing love of God produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope that brings us to glory.

My Father God, as I pray for absolute surrender in Your hands, including my future, my relationship with my beloved ones, my ministry, my health, and even my life, I pray that I do experience this love of God by the Holy Spirit that no matter what you brings into my life, I experience that this brings me into a deeper understanding of your love and maturity of my spiritual life that is a glory to me.