If God Be For Us
Today’s Verse:
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? ~Romans 8:31
In life, it is lonely and discouraging to be by yourself in tough situations. We want the outcome of our situation to turn out well. We are fearful of adverse circumstances and hardships we have no control over. However, Romans 8 was written to help understand God’s purpose and love for us in our sanctification. One of the greatest encouragements for us as God’s children is that God is for us. Knowing that God is on our side bolsters our faith and confidence in what we cannot see. It strengthens our hearts from the fear of the unknown and the hurt that accompanies our trials. This morning, let us consider the thought, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
God is for us in our destiny.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” vs. 1. The moment a person receives the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, he is saved forever! It is not a progressive process. “There is therefore now no condemnation.” We are pardoned, forgiven, and expunged from the penalty of sin. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life,” John 5:24. The Lord Jesus is our “hope of glory,” and this hope is seeing Him in eternity when our time in this life is over.
God is for us when we are distressed.
“In this life we suffer…” vs. 18. When we are distressed, we are overcome with negative thoughts as to how will we cope, what we will do, and why this all is happening to us. “[For] all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose,” vs. 28. However, we are given great hope to see us through our distress. “And we know that all things:” As Christians, we have this powerful assurance that all things work together for good to them that love God. The end result is good! We might ask, “How can anything good come out of this?” However, all things work together for our good. This teaches us to wait on the Lord, have faith in the Lord, and love the Lord. There is good in our suffering, even if it is not immediately apparent. When we are suffering, God is for us.
God is for us in our detachment.
Difficult situations leave us feeling lonely, desolate, and sometimes forsaken. We feel like nobody knows the trouble we are going through. These feelings can lead to thoughts of despair, and the inability to articulate our feelings to God. However, the Holy Spirit comes alongside of us, and makes intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. In a way we don’t understand, the Holy Spirit translates our broken heart into words that our Father understands. He is for us through the Holy Spirit’s ministry. He is also for us in His indescribable love. He loves us through our difficulty, and reminds us that nothing shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. In your loneliness, never forget the inseparable love of Jesus for you. Through His love, God is for us.
God is for us in our development.
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren,” vs. 29. God’s grand design is that we are changing into His image. Suffering, distress, and tough times are God’s gifts in conforming us into His image. Only fire can bring the impurities in gold and silver to the surface. Let us remember that God’s will is that we are changing into the image of Christ every day. This changes our perspective on God’s purpose and plan for us. God is for us when we consider the end product in our lives.
Leave your fears and insecurities at the foot of the cross. Always remember that God is for you, and not against you. God wants the best outcome for us and in us. If God be for us, who can be against us?
Have an encouraged God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Proverbs 24-26