The passage I read
was Romans 8:28-39
You can find that passage here:
The verse that most
stood out to me:
Almost every verse
stood out to me. I couldn’t choose.
As I reflect:
Romans 8:18 – we face
sufferings.
Romans 8:28 – He will
work them for our good.
He didn’t begin a
work in us to abandon us in suffering, but rather He predestined us and will continue
to work in us even through sufferings that He may be glorified as we are
justified through faith. I have heard
the verse used many a time that God will work all things for someone’s good…
Sadly, most of the time that I hear it, it is simply not true. I say that because as with many other
promises given by God, there is a qualifier that is present. In this verse that qualifier is us (those who
love God and are called according to His purpose). We who love God are also Biblically described
as thusly being obedient to God. So when
I hear the majority that are living their lives in direct contradiction and
obvious disobedience to God’s word use this passage to say what God is doing
for them, it saddens me because they have somehow convinced themselves that they
who do not follow God are qualified to receive the promises meant for His
followers. Me? I would think hearing about His promises to
His followers would be a driving/compelling force in my decision to start
following Him. But others, far too often
only want to take the pleasant promises from the word without ever reading the
qualifiers or considering the promised wrath for those not engrafted into the
vine.
In continuing to
read, we come across the whole “if God is for us, then who can be against us”
phrase. Make no mistake, this is also
greatly misused by those whom God is not for.
I have seen it even as a tattoo on many who are living very much against
God and for some reason think that He is supporting them despite their obvious
choices not to follow Him. It is often
sad to me to see these lost souls we are surrounded by in this dark world. May it give us purpose though to reach them
and correct the misconception that God is simply for whoever chooses to say He
is for them. Instead, let us few take
this knowledge and use it as a driving force to keep us from fear on our daily
battlegrounds as we come against the enemy’s work in Jesus’ name. People will and do insult us, accuse us,
condemn us, judge us, hate us, and threaten us on a pretty much regular
basis. It is verses like these of Paul’s
that encourage us that it’s not only normal, but that it is part of our daily
carrying the cross and we are backed by a greater army than any that has ever
been, because we have God for us and have been declared “not guilty” by Him. How encouraging is that? What a promise to remember in every
situation. He is for me… I would include
also that my action be for Him as seems only fitting for a follower.
Finally, we are
given the promise of long endurance. God’s
love for us was and is so great that He sacrificed His own Son to adopt
us. When you are willing to murder in
punishment your own son for someone else who cannot even go a few seconds
without sinning against you, what kind of love is that? How great must your love for someone be, to
see past how cruel they are to you, how mean and insulting they have been, how
undeserving they are of mercy, and say anyway that it is worth your only Son’s
life to bring those people to you? That
is a love that many cannot comprehend. It
is a love that will not easily be severed.
For the follower (the believer who reflects their belief in action – a saving
faith), this love is one which we cannot be separated from by death or life,
nor by angels or demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation. That is the love we have from God in Christ
Jesus our Lord. Surely if He loves us
that much, He will keep His word; His promises to us and we can trust them with
our life. When I go onto the
battlefield, I trust Him with my life.
When I close and lock the door to my home at night, It is not the lock
that I trust for my family’s safety… It is God.
When hardships come (and they do quite frequently), I do not curse God,
but rather I thank Him because I know and trust that He is working this
together with all other occurrences in my life for my good. My God is sovereign and I trust Him
completely. His promises are true.
My
response to the Lord:
My God, thank you for this reflection time on your
Word. I am considering the greatness of
your love for me and it is often hard to comprehend as I look on how wretched
and undeserving I am. And yet, I do
believe that I am called according to your purpose, and I do know that I love
you. So, though I see myself as greatly unworthy, I do recognize and believe
your word that you have chosen me and will use me. I believe that you will complete the work
begun in me and I trust you daily for my growth and the growth of my
family. I not only trust you Father, but
I am eternally thankful for you and the work that’s been done, being done, and
will be done in me. Remind me on the
battlefield Lord that you are with me and that you are for me. Be with me Lord, even when I am at rest that
the enemy’s attack hold no strength. I
pray in the name of Jesus that you would hear me and reply Father. Amen.
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