Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
August 26, 2021
Read Romans 8:28-39
28 We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 We know this because God knew them in advance, and he decided in advance that they would be conformed to the image of his Son. That way his Son would be the first of many brothers and sisters. 30 Those who God decided in advance would be conformed to his Son, he also called. Those whom he called, he also made righteous. Those whom he made righteous, he also glorified. 31 So what are we going to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He didn’t spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. Won’t he also freely give us all things with him? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect people? It is God who acquits them. 34 Who is going to convict them? It is Christ Jesus who died, even more, who was raised, and who also is at God’s right side. It is Christ Jesus who also pleads our case for us. 35 Who will separate us from Christ’s love? Will we be separated by trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, We are being put to death all day long for your sake. We are treated like sheep for slaughter. 37 But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. 38 I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers 39 or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.
Good Morning! If God is for us, then who is against us?
As I read through this passage, I feel Paul’s passion as he works to explain our daily walk with Christ. 28 We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. Let’s consider this verse for a moment.
First, we live in a world full of evil. Evil that tries to distract or tempt us to leave our path of faith. God gives us free will to make these choices. Those who choose to love God will be protected, while those who choose to ignore God will suffer. God does not cause horrific events like car accidents or even pandemics. Romans 8:28 does not mean that all things are good, but that God takes things and makes them new. God redeems all things by taking the mess, the brokenness, and the evil and turns it upside down and inside out.
Our God is an awesome God who is more powerful than all the forces of evil. God used the death of His only Son, to redeem all of humanity and to save us all. Only God can restore the brokenness of our world. God doesn’t cause the tragedies that take our loved ones, but God comes to us to restore our lives when we are broken and lost. God is bigger than all of our troubles, all of the world’s troubles. With God, evil is defeated through the death and resurrection of Christ.
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. Help us to call out to you when we are lost and broken. Thank you for sending your Son to show us the way. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God is for me, not against me.
God will take care of us! Pastor Liz
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