Daily Bread 2010 - Romans 8
Daily Bread 2010 – Romans 8
More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If Paul’s letter to the Romans is the Himalaya’s of the New Testament, then Romans 8 is certainly Mount Everest. The peaks being Romans 8;18, Romans 8;28 and Romans 8:38-39. In these verses, we are given promises that will help us to endure any situation. In these verses, we discover that there is no suffering worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. Notice it says, “Revealed in us.”
God has chosen to do his work in us. And part of this work of maturation sometimes involves suffering. But our suffering has a purpose, as it helps conform us to the image of Jesus. And, in fact, that is part of what we are predestined for, to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. (8:29) So often when we talk of predestination, we think of predestination to heaven. Yet, before that ultimate destination all believers are bound for, we have our journey here on earth, where all things work together for those who are chosen. (8:28)
In the end, all things can work together for good because of verses 38-39. In the end nothing can separate us from the love of God, for if God is for us, then who can be against us!! This helps us to deal with temporary hardships, because we know that not even death can separate us from God’s love. What a promise, especially at the time of a loss of a loved one.
These promises gave Paul such strength when he was being persecuted for his faith. They helped him to keep his eyes on the cross and the ultimate goal of his heavenward call in Christ Jesus. Without this kind of laser-like focus, we can get discouraged and wonder why so many bad things are happening to us.
This is what separates the Christian worldview from all other religions and spiritualities. In the Christian worldview suffering is not to be avoided, or a sign of God’s curse, or something that we can escape through re-incarnation. In the Christ path, suffering leads to completeness and understanding the sufferings our Lord underwent for us. This helps us cope with suffering, realizing that God is not aloof to suffering. Not only does he promise to be with us in our suffering, but also that one day the suffering we experience in this life will not be worthy to be compared to what will be revealed in us!
Prayer: God we thank you for these very precious promises that have all come true through Your Son. Help us to live in light of these promises and not allow our enemy to discourage us through lies. I pray for anyone who is suffering right now that these promises will give them a hope that will not disappoint them. We look forward to the day when we will realize all the promises you have given us when you take us home to be with you and all the saints in the company of light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If Paul’s letter to the Romans is the Himalaya’s of the New Testament, then Romans 8 is certainly Mount Everest. The peaks being Romans 8;18, Romans 8;28 and Romans 8:38-39. In these verses, we are given promises that will help us to endure any situation. In these verses, we discover that there is no suffering worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. Notice it says, “Revealed in us.”
God has chosen to do his work in us. And part of this work of maturation sometimes involves suffering. But our suffering has a purpose, as it helps conform us to the image of Jesus. And, in fact, that is part of what we are predestined for, to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. (8:29) So often when we talk of predestination, we think of predestination to heaven. Yet, before that ultimate destination all believers are bound for, we have our journey here on earth, where all things work together for those who are chosen. (8:28)
In the end, all things can work together for good because of verses 38-39. In the end nothing can separate us from the love of God, for if God is for us, then who can be against us!! This helps us to deal with temporary hardships, because we know that not even death can separate us from God’s love. What a promise, especially at the time of a loss of a loved one.
These promises gave Paul such strength when he was being persecuted for his faith. They helped him to keep his eyes on the cross and the ultimate goal of his heavenward call in Christ Jesus. Without this kind of laser-like focus, we can get discouraged and wonder why so many bad things are happening to us.
This is what separates the Christian worldview from all other religions and spiritualities. In the Christian worldview suffering is not to be avoided, or a sign of God’s curse, or something that we can escape through re-incarnation. In the Christ path, suffering leads to completeness and understanding the sufferings our Lord underwent for us. This helps us cope with suffering, realizing that God is not aloof to suffering. Not only does he promise to be with us in our suffering, but also that one day the suffering we experience in this life will not be worthy to be compared to what will be revealed in us!
Prayer: God we thank you for these very precious promises that have all come true through Your Son. Help us to live in light of these promises and not allow our enemy to discourage us through lies. I pray for anyone who is suffering right now that these promises will give them a hope that will not disappoint them. We look forward to the day when we will realize all the promises you have given us when you take us home to be with you and all the saints in the company of light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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