Prayer: Embolden us through your Word, O God, increase our faith and faithfulness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Love of God in Christ Jesus
If God is for us, who is against us? (v. 31)
As I read today’s text the following stood out:
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Many in this world are faced with adversity, persecutions, illness, poverty, homelessness. Those who love God have work to do “according to God’s purpose.” We have gifts and talents to be used at appropriate times to further the Kingdom of God. Paul teaches that there is no way we will lose in the long run because God is with us. He gives us what we need to live and to serve as He pleases. Furthermore, God knows our needs and hears the prayers of the Spirit who intercedes for us even when we don’t know what to pray.
Our devotion writer relates a personal story about how he lost his job and became self-employed. Since he was self-employed, he had flexible hours; he was able to study theology at the seminary. In doing this he strengthened his faith and learned how better to follow Jesus. So God used the employment situation to increase his skills and talents.
Our devotion writer writes; “Each one of us suffers at some time, and we know well that all sad and difficult things do not turn out for the better in this life. People are killed by accidents; people die of cancer; people are abused. Paul’s words speak to us, proclaiming that our only hope is God’s promise that nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer: “Merciful God, fill me with the hope of your promise that my life as your child will never end, through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Romans 8:26-39
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
God’s Love in Christ Jesus
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gary's Devotion Comments 