Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
March 10, 2025
Romans 8:18-25
18 I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters. 20 Creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice—it was the choice of the one who subjected it—but in the hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until now. 23 And it’s not only the creation. We ourselves who have the Spirit as the first crop of the harvest also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free. 24 We were saved in hope. If we see what we hope for, that isn’t hope. Who hopes for what they already see? 25 But if we hope for what we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.
Good Morning. We are unrevealed until our season!
This passage in Romans is filled with thoughts and ideas upon which we should ponder. This morning, verse 23 caught my attention.
We ourselves, who have the Spirit as the first crop of the harvest, also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free.
Paul is speaking of our coming glory when we join with God to celebrate our eternal life. The words “first crop of the harvest” pique my interest. I am thinking of gardening. With some crops like beans, the first crop of the harvest is often the most prolific picking. Subsequent harvests are less in number.
My favorite fruit of the vine is the tomato. Each season, I faithfully plant my tomato plants. When that first tomato appears, I check daily to follow its progress. I watch and wait with patience for it to come to full maturity. The day of harvest for that first tomato is a day of celebration. No tomato tastes any better than the first harvest.
From the first crop of the harvest, I move to the idea of groaning inside as we wait to be adopted so our bodies are set free. I feel the growing anticipation of adoption as the “butterflies” fill my inner soul. Perhaps our bodies are the chrysalis in which the butterflies are formed, developed, and protected until the perfect moment of release. When our time of transition comes, our bodies are discarded so that we may fly into the arms of God, our creator.
When we all get to heaven! What a day of rejoicing it will be! When we all see Jesus! We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Loving Lord, Maker of all things! You love us! You created us in your image. May we shine like the sun so that others can find their way home. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Our present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory!
Jesus came to set us free! Pastor Liz
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