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God FOR Us
Last month we discussed what it means that God is WITH us and how it goes way beyond just His physical presence. It's some pretty powerful stuff.
But then we can sometimes think or say, "Yeah, God is with me, but then why does He allow all of this crap in my life to happen? It doesn't seem like He's very good at taking care of me and bringing good stuff into my life. I don't know if I want Him with me if it means I'm going to have all of these tough things happen to me."
Earlier in Romans 8 it talks about specific ways that show God is for us. We have been given the Spirit of adoption as sons and daughters rather than a spirit of slavery that leads to fear (vs. 15). We are therefore children of God and coheirs of God with Christ Himself (vs. 16-17)! What could be a better identity than that?
We eagerly long for the day we are officially adopted, and the hope of that is what saves us (vs. 23-24).
Living with an endless, eternal hope, until that day comes to fruition, is what keeps us going day in and day out, no matter what comes at us. God gives us that living, true hope!
The Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. Even when we don't know what to pray, He intercedes on our behalf (vs. 26). This releases the pressure and stress of having to know and stay on top of everything in our own strength. What relief!
Because we are sons and daughters and coheirs with Christ, this means that we also suffer with Christ in order that we will also be glorified with him (vs. 17). This world is full of suffering. But we can rejoice in suffering with Christ because of what it means for our future!
We can trust that God is good, working all things out for the good of us who love Him (vs. 28).
Good things. Sometimes we need to step back and look at our lives from a heavenly perspective. Sometimes what is truly good for us, isn't what we want or see as good. But in God's eyes, it's exactly what we need and for our best.
Other times when life is not going well, we need to seek to understand simply how sin is a contributing factor. Just because God is in control and sovereign doesn't take away the fact that humans have free will to do as they please. Sin is everywhere around us, Satan is actively seeking to steal, kill and destroy, and this will cause all sorts of turmoil.
In the end, absolutely nothing can separate us from God's perfect, unfailing love (vs. 39). He gave His perfect and only Son FOR us all, that we may live (vs. 32). Let's remember these truths as we go about our daily lives, through the good, the bad, the hard and the ugly.
If God is with us and if God is for us as He shows and promises He is, then what do we have to lose? Who can be against us?
Nothing and no one. What a powerful and protected place to live.
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