"If we don't add eggs, the cookies will be crumbly." That's what I was explaining to Caleb as we turned on the mixer. We had a rare moment the other day when he stayed home from school, and I stayed home from work. Granted it was because he was on crutches, we determined to make it sweet, so we decided to make M&M cookies to surprise everyone before they came home.
I can make most of the things I make without a recipe. I've made them so many times it's almost muscle memory. We were almost done with the batter when Caleb said, these look funny. With both of us adding ingredients we had totally neglected the eggs.
There is a list of ingredients in Romans Chapter 5 that lead to hope. The list doesn't start out sounding like a recipe I want to make, it begins with suffering.
If we want to be a people of hope we have to know that the list starts with suffering. It's an important ingredient. If we avoid it, we will also miss endurance growth, character built, and the hope that emerges from the process.
If we had to taste each ingredient that went into chocolate chip cookies separately and decide if we wanted to add it, no one would add eggs. They are gross and slimy. You don't see them when you look at the finished cookie because after the process they are part of something totally different. We just trust the process and add them in when they recipe says.
Hope is strengthened each time we walk through this list. Hope expects. Hope anticipates the goodness that will come from resistance, just like when we strength train our physical bodies. The Greek word for hope used here is elpís (from elpō, "to anticipate, welcome") – expectation of what is sure (certain); hope. When we are in suffering, enduring, and painfully building character we can welcome hope with open arms. It's a sure thing, if we just keep going. One day our hope will be realized when those open arms are embraced by Jesus when we make it the whole way to heaven.
There is actually a comma at the end of the verse I put in the graphic above. People often stop at Romans 5:4 and miss what comes after the comma, just after character produces hope:
"…and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy spirit who has been given to us" (v.5).
Just when you feel like suffering has emptied you out, left you completely dry, God brings the abundance. He pours His love into the newly vacant space. That vacant space opens up the possibilities. We can be so full or ourselves that we have to empty first before we can be filled. I know that in my life anything God has emptied, He has faithfully filled with more of Himself.
The Message paraphrases this verse with the best picture:
" We can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!' MSG
Let suffering empty out the things that need to go to make room for all that the Holy Spirit wants to pour into your life. Start collecting containers!
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