The Great Conclusion
The highlight of today was that Debbie’s work schedule allowed her to be home for most of the day. She had some dental work in the morning and was able to work from home for most of the day. She made a visit to our new COSTCO which she has anxiously been waiting for the last few years. Later this afternoon we did an early dinner out at the Outback Steakhouse. So this has been a good day.
My energy level hasn’t been consistently where I would like it to be, but I am improving and learning the wisdom of making adjustments sooner than later as I manage my fatigue level.
The warm fall weather continues which I am enjoying. I had an estimate on trimming some of our trees and the company is already booked until next February. That will be good timing for next spring which will be here before you know it.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
I recall many years ago studying this familiar verse and looking in the context of Romans 8 and it hit me that the idea that “God is for us….” is not just an encouraging statement by Paul to bolster faith and obedience, it is the logical conclusion to all the God has done for us through Christ.
Paul begins the chapter talking about the life we have through the Spirit of God. That there is “no condemnation for them who walk according to the Spirit and not after the flesh.” (Rom. 8:2) He goes on and shares how through Christ the righteous requirements of the law have been met. “By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:3,4)
Then Paul shares how that if we are led by the Spirit of God we are heirs to all that God has promised. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…” (Rom. 8:16,17)
Paul encourages believers with the reality that we have a future glory and a present source of strength. When it comes to the future he says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Rom. 8:18) Though suffering may happen in this life and in our mortal bodies we look forward to a day of redemption with hope and patience.
The strength we have in the present is that God helps us, literally comes alongside of us and that He is working for our good. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words….we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:26,28)
Paul is moving through his discourse, life in the Spirit, no condemnation for those in Christ, heirs with Christ, a glorious future and a present sustained by God’s intercession for us and His work in us. I can see the Apostle taking a break and stopping and thinking in the midst of his dictation and saying, “what can we say to all this?” What is our take away? “God is for us!” That is the only logical conclusion. And if “God is for us, who can be against us?”
He concludes the chapter by saying, tribulation can’t overcome us, distress can’t stop us, persecution can’t dissuade us, famine can’t defeat us, nakedness, or danger, or the sword will not have the final word. Why? Because nothing can separate us from God’s love.
In this political season we see candidates asking for and displaying their “endorsements.” They want to show others who is “for them.” The idea is if these people, these organizations are for this person, that person is going to be on the winning side. In primary campaigns sometimes endorsements are used to discourage competition. If this person or these people are for this candidate, I don’t have a change of winning.
There is no greater endorsement on your life than that which comes from the God of the universe! He is for, in your corner, providing you support, cheering you on. And that fact alone can discourage the opposition, and assure you of ultimate victory!