Romans 8:35-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The list Paul gives here has 2 meanings. The first is that none of these things can separate us from the love of God. His love is more powerful, more relentless, more unstoppable than we can ever know. These puny obstacles are nothing. It's liked vapor trying to stop a freight train. Nothing this life throws at us can interrupt the flow of God's love into our lives.
The second meaning of this list is that through His love, we conquer each and every thing listed. Not only that, we go beyond conquering! More than conquerors! Think about that! It's not enough for us to defy and destroy every obstacle in this life, but because of the unfathomable power of His love, we do more than conquer.
These are incredible promises. But we must remember, that conquering does not mean avoiding. Paul lists some very hard, unpleasant things. Things that will seem at times impossible to overcome. Yet the promise remains. Though we may have to endure hardship, we will conquer through His love.
Do I feel this power of God's love working in my life today? Does my life look like the life of a conqueror? What needs to change in order to start fulfilling the potential of God's love in my life?
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Monday, November 20, 2017
Ultimate Proof
Romans 8:31-32 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Paul doesn't just state that God is for us and leave it at that. He points to the ultimate proof - He spared not His own Son.
There are so many things around us that demonstrate God's love for us and the fact that He is for us. We see in nature a planet designed for our benefit. We see daily miracles of life. We see an order of right and wrong that protects those who follow it. These all show that God loves humanity!
However, the thing that showed that love more than anything else was God the Father sending His Son to be the sacrifice for us "while we were yet sinners." That love is undeniable!
How am I experiencing God's undeniable love today? Is it even something I've consciously thought of today?
Paul doesn't just state that God is for us and leave it at that. He points to the ultimate proof - He spared not His own Son.
There are so many things around us that demonstrate God's love for us and the fact that He is for us. We see in nature a planet designed for our benefit. We see daily miracles of life. We see an order of right and wrong that protects those who follow it. These all show that God loves humanity!
However, the thing that showed that love more than anything else was God the Father sending His Son to be the sacrifice for us "while we were yet sinners." That love is undeniable!
How am I experiencing God's undeniable love today? Is it even something I've consciously thought of today?
Thursday, November 16, 2017
We Don't Know How To Pray
Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
Recently, I've felt the need to pray more. Like any relationship, our relationship with God is built on the foundation of communication. However, prayer is a discipline that must be practiced and worked at relentlessly and with dedication and tenacity.
But no matter how hard we work at it, we are human's with deep rooted infirmities. His thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours. Our prayers are also on this terrestrial plain, while God's will is in that celestial plain, so very high above us.
Praise be to God for giving us His Holy Spirit. We don't know how to pray like we should. So He makes intercession for us. We do not know what to pray for, so He searches our hearts. Our perception of God's will is so far off sometimes, so He prays on our behalf.
Incredible. Let that truly sink in today.
Recently, I've felt the need to pray more. Like any relationship, our relationship with God is built on the foundation of communication. However, prayer is a discipline that must be practiced and worked at relentlessly and with dedication and tenacity.
But no matter how hard we work at it, we are human's with deep rooted infirmities. His thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours. Our prayers are also on this terrestrial plain, while God's will is in that celestial plain, so very high above us.
Praise be to God for giving us His Holy Spirit. We don't know how to pray like we should. So He makes intercession for us. We do not know what to pray for, so He searches our hearts. Our perception of God's will is so far off sometimes, so He prays on our behalf.
Incredible. Let that truly sink in today.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Wait, With Patience
Romans 8:24-25 "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
Since there is more to this life than we can see, every belief that delves beyond the here and now must be based at least to some degree in faith. We cannot see our ultimate end, therefore we must have faith if we are to believe anything about our future eternal state.
As a Christian, a believer in the Word of God, that hope is a glorious one. An eternal home with our Creator Who loves us. A place of no tears, nor fear, nor death, nor pain. A place reunited with those we love. Heaven. Paradise. I don't know about you, but I don't want to wait. Yet that is exactly what we are commanded to do. Wait with patience.
The word "patience" here means "cheerful endurance". Does this describe my attitude toward life today?
Since there is more to this life than we can see, every belief that delves beyond the here and now must be based at least to some degree in faith. We cannot see our ultimate end, therefore we must have faith if we are to believe anything about our future eternal state.
As a Christian, a believer in the Word of God, that hope is a glorious one. An eternal home with our Creator Who loves us. A place of no tears, nor fear, nor death, nor pain. A place reunited with those we love. Heaven. Paradise. I don't know about you, but I don't want to wait. Yet that is exactly what we are commanded to do. Wait with patience.
The word "patience" here means "cheerful endurance". Does this describe my attitude toward life today?
Monday, November 13, 2017
Glory In Us
Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
I feel myself shy away from the thought of glory being revealed in me. I know my faults, my failings, my evil, deceptive, desperately wicked heart. How could there possibly be any glory within me?
Clearly, it's not because of anything I've done, or can do. It's because of the transformation that God has wrought within me. That transformation does not yet appear in full. Creation is earnestly waiting "for the manifestation of the sons of God." There will come a day where we will finally become all that we were meant to be. Creation and our very souls are groaning, anticipating that day. "...waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
There is glory within each and every child of God. Because of what He has done for us, these failing bodies will be redeemed one glorious day. What a day of rejoicing that will be! It is not us, but rather Christ in us, the hope of glory.
I feel myself shy away from the thought of glory being revealed in me. I know my faults, my failings, my evil, deceptive, desperately wicked heart. How could there possibly be any glory within me?
Clearly, it's not because of anything I've done, or can do. It's because of the transformation that God has wrought within me. That transformation does not yet appear in full. Creation is earnestly waiting "for the manifestation of the sons of God." There will come a day where we will finally become all that we were meant to be. Creation and our very souls are groaning, anticipating that day. "...waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
There is glory within each and every child of God. Because of what He has done for us, these failing bodies will be redeemed one glorious day. What a day of rejoicing that will be! It is not us, but rather Christ in us, the hope of glory.
Friday, November 10, 2017
In the Spirit
Romans 8:9 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
The chapter designations can be helpful, however they are arbitrary and we ought to remember that. I believe this is the key verse in trying to understand chapters 6-8. Throughout the chapters, Paul lays out the struggle that we all face as Christians. The battle between the carnal flesh and its desire for sin and the new spiritual nature's desire for righteousness.
These 2 are diametrically opposed. We know that no one can serve 2 masters. Being the fickle humans that we are, we vacillate back and forth. We walk in the Spirit, where there is "life and peace". But then at times we are drawn away by our own lust, we fall, and walk in the flesh.
But we are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. If a prisoner was freed from prison, but continued to live like he was confined to his 4 cell walls, we'd think him crazy! The whole world is at your fingertips, freedom is vast! The prisoner however must choose to live in freedom. So too we must choose to live in the Spirit. The 4 prison cell walls of the flesh are gone, destroyed by the cross. Yet, we still have that daily choice to live as the freemen that we are. For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Am I living in the truth of my freedom? Am I living today "in the Spirit"?
The chapter designations can be helpful, however they are arbitrary and we ought to remember that. I believe this is the key verse in trying to understand chapters 6-8. Throughout the chapters, Paul lays out the struggle that we all face as Christians. The battle between the carnal flesh and its desire for sin and the new spiritual nature's desire for righteousness.
These 2 are diametrically opposed. We know that no one can serve 2 masters. Being the fickle humans that we are, we vacillate back and forth. We walk in the Spirit, where there is "life and peace". But then at times we are drawn away by our own lust, we fall, and walk in the flesh.
But we are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. If a prisoner was freed from prison, but continued to live like he was confined to his 4 cell walls, we'd think him crazy! The whole world is at your fingertips, freedom is vast! The prisoner however must choose to live in freedom. So too we must choose to live in the Spirit. The 4 prison cell walls of the flesh are gone, destroyed by the cross. Yet, we still have that daily choice to live as the freemen that we are. For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Am I living in the truth of my freedom? Am I living today "in the Spirit"?
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Age of Acountability
Romans 7:9 "For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died."
In trying to get a better understanding of this chapter, I've been reading commentaries. I discovered that I have a different take on this verse than some people.
You often hear people talk about the age of accountability, where a young child is not held guilty of sin until they reach an age where they can understand the law. I believe that this verse is evidence of that being the case.
Paul says he was alive without the law. The law was always around, from the beginning to the end of Paul's life. Yet there was a point in his life where he was without the law. Concurrent with this point in his life, he was also alive. From the context of the chapter, we can infer that "alive" means he was not under the condemnation of sin. Looking at Paul's life, we know that this could not be after his salvation (he states it was the law that brought him to Christ). This had to be a time prior to his salvation, but also prior to his understanding of the law (before the commandment came).
Therefore, the conclusion must be that Paul was alive before he understood the law. This would have been at a very early age, where his brain was simply not developed enough to understand. However, when the commandment came, sin revived, and he died. We cannot point to a certain age where this occurs, however, I do believe that Paul here is speaking about the age of accountability.
In trying to get a better understanding of this chapter, I've been reading commentaries. I discovered that I have a different take on this verse than some people.
You often hear people talk about the age of accountability, where a young child is not held guilty of sin until they reach an age where they can understand the law. I believe that this verse is evidence of that being the case.
Paul says he was alive without the law. The law was always around, from the beginning to the end of Paul's life. Yet there was a point in his life where he was without the law. Concurrent with this point in his life, he was also alive. From the context of the chapter, we can infer that "alive" means he was not under the condemnation of sin. Looking at Paul's life, we know that this could not be after his salvation (he states it was the law that brought him to Christ). This had to be a time prior to his salvation, but also prior to his understanding of the law (before the commandment came).
Therefore, the conclusion must be that Paul was alive before he understood the law. This would have been at a very early age, where his brain was simply not developed enough to understand. However, when the commandment came, sin revived, and he died. We cannot point to a certain age where this occurs, however, I do believe that Paul here is speaking about the age of accountability.
Friday, November 3, 2017
Newness of Spirit
Romans 7:6 "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
The Sermon on the Mount was revolutionary because it approached God's commandments in a new way. It focused on the spirit of the law, and not merely the letter. Jesus explained what the commandments meant in regard to your heart attitude, not merely outward actions.
Jesus explained that murder isn't just physically killing someone (oldness of the letter). Hating someone in your heart (the newness of the spirit) is the same thing.
Jesus explained that adultery isn't just physically being unfaithful to a spouse (oldness of the letter). Lusting in your heart (the newness of the spirit) is the same thing.
The Sermon on the Mount was revolutionary because it approached God's commandments in a new way. It focused on the spirit of the law, and not merely the letter. Jesus explained what the commandments meant in regard to your heart attitude, not merely outward actions.
Jesus explained that murder isn't just physically killing someone (oldness of the letter). Hating someone in your heart (the newness of the spirit) is the same thing.
Jesus explained that adultery isn't just physically being unfaithful to a spouse (oldness of the letter). Lusting in your heart (the newness of the spirit) is the same thing.
Your rote physical action of obedience is not what God is after. He wants your heart. And He wants all of it.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Journey to Heaven
Romans 6
This whole passage has a progression. We are given the example of Christ - His surrender & obedience unto death, then His resurrection to life. For us, this is the first step of salvation - recognizing our deadness and our need of a Savior, accepting His grace, accepting Him as our Savior.
The next step is to reckon ourselves dead to sin, alive to Christ. Next we recognize Who is Lord of our bodies and yield ourselves completely and totally to Him. This leads us to loving obedience, which leads us to righteousness. The fruit of this progression will be holiness, or a life set apart to God. And the end result will be everlasting life.
Salvation, reckon dead to sin, alive to Christ, recognize Who is Lord, yield to Him, obey, righteousness, holiness, eternal life. At what point am I on this journey to Heaven?
This whole passage has a progression. We are given the example of Christ - His surrender & obedience unto death, then His resurrection to life. For us, this is the first step of salvation - recognizing our deadness and our need of a Savior, accepting His grace, accepting Him as our Savior.
The next step is to reckon ourselves dead to sin, alive to Christ. Next we recognize Who is Lord of our bodies and yield ourselves completely and totally to Him. This leads us to loving obedience, which leads us to righteousness. The fruit of this progression will be holiness, or a life set apart to God. And the end result will be everlasting life.
Salvation, reckon dead to sin, alive to Christ, recognize Who is Lord, yield to Him, obey, righteousness, holiness, eternal life. At what point am I on this journey to Heaven?
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Reckon
Romans 6:11 "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
The keyword in this verse is "reckon". It's not a common word these days. The word means, "to consider, take into account, weigh, meditate on." In this context, this word deals with reality. This word refers more to fact than supposition or opinion.
So what is true in this circumstance? If I reckon myself dead to sin, yet continue to live in sin, I am not dealing in reality. I'm deceiving myself and consequences will follow.
Considering the fact that I am dead to sin does not make me perfect. However, anytime I do stumble and fall, I'll have the motivation to get right back up again because I know who I am, what I am, and in what state I am in. I know that I am a Christian, a ransomed child of the king, and that I am alive unto God and dead to sin.
Meditate on the state of your life in Christ right now. How is this influencing how I will live my life today?
The keyword in this verse is "reckon". It's not a common word these days. The word means, "to consider, take into account, weigh, meditate on." In this context, this word deals with reality. This word refers more to fact than supposition or opinion.
So what is true in this circumstance? If I reckon myself dead to sin, yet continue to live in sin, I am not dealing in reality. I'm deceiving myself and consequences will follow.
Considering the fact that I am dead to sin does not make me perfect. However, anytime I do stumble and fall, I'll have the motivation to get right back up again because I know who I am, what I am, and in what state I am in. I know that I am a Christian, a ransomed child of the king, and that I am alive unto God and dead to sin.
Meditate on the state of your life in Christ right now. How is this influencing how I will live my life today?
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