Thursday, August 02,
2012, 6:11 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song “Here is Your God!” Speak, Lord, for
your servant is listening. I read Romans
8:28-39 (NIV 1984):
And we know that in
all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be
conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also
justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we
say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He 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? Who will bring any charge against
those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who 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. Who shall separate us from the love
of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or
danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face
death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered.”
No, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced
that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor
the future, nor any powers, neither 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.
In All Things
In all things, not some things, but in all things that come
into our lives, God works for the good of those who: 1) love him, and 2) have
been called according to his purpose.
So, the first question we must ask is: “To whom is this
referring?” To whom does this whole section of scripture apply? Who are these
promises for? Are they to be applied across the board to everyone who reads
this? - Or, to all those who call themselves Christian? Or, is there a specific
targeted group here in mind to which these promises apply? I believe if we read
through the entire chapter we can ascertain as to who are the intended
recipients:
·
Those who are in Christ Jesus (v. 1) – by faith
(repentance & obedience)
·
Those who do not live according to the sinful
nature (v. 4)
·
Those who live according to the Spirit (v. 4) –
according to the Word of Christ
·
Those who have their minds set on what the
Spirit desires (v. 5)
·
Those whose minds are controlled by the Spirit
(v. 6) – not by the flesh
·
Those who, by the Spirit, put to death the
misdeeds of the body (v. 13)
·
Those who are led by the Spirit of God (v. 14) –
who follow God’s lead
·
Those who love God (v. 28) – see 1 John 2:3; 5:3
(love=obedience)
·
Those who have been called by God according to
his purpose (v. 28)
We must not read through this list casually. This is very
important that we read through each item prayerfully and carefully, and that we
really think about what these various requirements mean. We cannot claim the
promises and blessings of God in our lives if this list does not apply to us.
None of us will do all of it perfectly all the time, but if we fail the test,
then we fail to be the intended recipients of these promises of God.
So, what is this “good” that God works for us who love him? The
“good” is not necessarily what we might consider to be good. God doesn’t think
like we do. His good is what conforms us to be like Jesus Christ, his Son. So,
we should not expect that all things in our lives are going to turn out
peachy-keen in the end, but that God will use everything that comes into our
lives for our ultimate good, i.e. for what will bring him glory and praise, and
what will mature us, mold us, and make us to be the people of God he intends us
to be. God allows us to go through suffering so that we can become more Christ-like
in all that we do and say.
He Predestined
Predestination is a subject of much theological debate among
the great theologians of scripture. My intention is never to get into
theological debate on this subject, but rather to look at it in context, and to
see how practically this can be applied to our lives.
Let’s break it down. The foreknowledge of God is also much
disputed, so let’s try to make it simple. God created all of us. He is all
knowing. He knew us all before we were even a twinkle in our parents’ eyes. He
is the one who formed us in the womb of our mothers and all the days ordained
for us were written in his book before one of them came into being (see Ps.
139). God also predetermined the times set for us and the exact places where we
should live (see Acts 17:26). The ninth chapter of Romans speaks even further
on this subject. God is completely sovereign over all he created. He is God. It
is not our place to question him. Yet, I do know that God’s word teaches that
He is not willing that any of us should perish, but that all of us should come
to repentance (turning from our sin to God).
Yet, this foreknowledge spoken of here is obviously speaking
specifically of those God knew ahead of time (from eternity) would become his
children. Those he knew as his children even before they became his children,
he predestined (prearranged; predetermined) that we would be conformed (be
consistent with; match up; shaped) to the likeness of his Son. We learn what
Jesus was like – the things he did and said; his attitudes, etc. – from reading
the gospels in the Bible. He set the example for us of godly living. Obviously
we will not be sinless, like he was sinless, but we must remember that he suffered
as we do, and he was tempted in all ways like we are, and that he lived in a
flesh body, too. So, it was not any easier for him to resist sin than it is for
us. He went through all that so he could be our sympathetic and merciful high
priest who is there to help us in our times of weakness.
If God is For Us
These are awesome promises that follow here in response to
what has been said previously. I find it interesting that these promises begin
with the word “If.” “If God is for us,” then… So, what determines whether or
not God is for us? Please reread the list above taken from the entire 8th
chapter of Romans. God is for those who are for him. If, by faith, we have
turned from our lives of sin, and we have turned to walk in obedience to
Christ, then God is for us. If we no longer live sinful lifestyles, without
regard for God and his commands, then God is for us. If we live according to
the Spirit and the ways of God and the teachings of Christ, then God is for us.
If we have our minds set on what the Spirit of God desires for our lives
instead of what our flesh desires, and our minds are now controlled by the
Spirit of God and not by our sinful flesh, then God is for us. If we die daily
to sin, and we follow the leading of our Lord and his word in our lives, we are
conformed to the image of Christ, and we are walking in obedience to him, then
God is for us. And, who can be against us?
If God went to all the trouble to send his one and only Son
to the earth, to take on human flesh, to suffer as we suffer, to be tempted in
all the ways we are tempted, to be mocked, ridiculed, despised, forsaken,
abandoned, rejected, beaten and crucified for our sins, will he not give us all
we need to live this Christian life as he has predetermined that we should live
it? – Most certainly he will!
He will deliver us from evil, and he will give us the way
out from underneath temptation, but we have to cooperate with him. He will give
us all the power, resources, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, strength and encouragement
we need. We just have to be faithful to him in doing what he asks us to do. He can’t
help us to not be tempted if we are not willing to receive his help, or if we
are willfully submitting ourselves to what tempts us. Asking for his help, and
then doing what we want to do anyway, is counterproductive. We must yield to
his wisdom and guidance if we want his help and assistance in knowing how to
live this Christian life, in being empowered from on high with the strength and
wisdom we need for each day, and in resisting Satan and fleeing temptation.
Who shall Separate
us?
This is one of the greatest and most precious promises of
scripture which applies to those whom God is for, who are in Christ Jesus by
faith, who love God, and who have been called according to his purposes.
Nothing and no one can separate us from Christ’s love. Amen! No matter what we
go through, Jesus will always be there for us. Even when we fail him, and we
fall into sin’s deceptive ways once again, he is there to pick us back up and
to restore us if we will repent of our sins and choose to walk in obedience to him
once again. He will never leave us or forsake us. We can always count on him!
He is completely faithful to all his promises. No matter what tragedies in life
we face, what difficulties, and/or what seemingly impossible situations we may
encounter, he will always be there for us to comfort, encourage, strengthen and
bring much healing to our hearts and bodies. Amen!
More than Conquerors
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him
who loves us. How are we conquerors? We are victorious over sin and the effects
of life’s difficulties on our minds, emotions and bodies when we choose to
apply the truths of scripture, and the teachings and remedies of Christ, to our
sin problems and to our human weaknesses, trusting the Lord Jesus daily to work
in and through us for his honor and glory and praise.
Here is Your God!
/ An Original Work / July 18, 2012
Based off Isaiah 40:9-31 NIV
You who bring
good tidings to Zion,
Lift up your voice;
raise with a shout,
And do not be
afraid of the people.
Say, “Here is your
God!”
See how the Lord God
Comes now with power.
His arm rules for Him;
His reward with Him.
He tends His flock
Just like a shepherd,
His lambs in His arms.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told
you
From beginning?
Our Lord sits
Enthroned above all
things.
None to Him compare.
Lift up your eyes
And look to the
heavens.
Who made all of these?
Who calls them by
name?
Because of His great
Power and strength,
All accounted for.
Why do you say,
“My way is hidden
From the Lord, and
My cause forgotten”?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord, He is your
God.
He will not weary.
He gives us power.
Those who trust in Him
Will renew their
strength.
They will soar on
wings
Just like eagles;
Walk and do faint not.
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