Weekend, January 25, 2020
Since God Is for You...
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? (Romans 8:31–32 nlt)
The apostle Paul asked the question, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:30 nlt).
Well, actually a lot of people are against us. If you stand up for Jesus Christ, then people will oppose you. In fact, 2 Timothy 3:12 tells us that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (nlt).
Paul wasn’t saying that if you follow and stand up for Jesus Christ, you never will have enemies. The fact is that you will have some new enemies if you’re a true Christian.
The point Paul was making is this: Who or what are these enemies when you compare them to God Himself?
The answer is that we are not to fear them. Since God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Of course, we don’t always feel as though God is for us, because things happen in our lives that don’t make any sense. When things seem to go from bad to worse, we think, “God certainly couldn’t be for me in this situation.”
There are times when we look at ourselves and see our failings, sinfulness, and flaws and think, “How could God ever be for someone like me? How could God ever love someone like me?”
Like Jacob in Genesis 42, we complain, “Everything is going against me!” (verse 36 nlt).
Sometimes we think God is disappointed with us, but that simply isn’t true. God can see the future. We can’t. God can see that one day we will be like His Son, Jesus Christ. Through all the circumstances of life that God has either orchestrated or allowed, He is molding us into the image of Christ.
We see shortcomings, but God sees the finished product. He’s on your side. Are you on His?
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Grief is one of life’s most difficult challenges. Pastor Greg Laurie experienced this truth when his son Christopher passed away suddenly. Discover comfort and healing in times of pain as you read his book Hope for Hurting Hearts. Receive your copy as our gift for your donation of any amount to Harvest Ministries this month.
