Today's Scripture
The Best Out of the Worst – Romans 8:28-39
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
God’s Love in Christ Jesus
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rich's Devotion
What the passage says
Vs. 30-31 “ God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.”
-The Message
Vs 31-39 “With God on our side like this how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us?”
Paul goes on to use his Greek logic to show that this love has such strength that nothing can break it. “Nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” – The message
What does the passage say to me/us?
What is clear is that God’s purpose for us was not an afterthought. God has called each and every one of us to be his. We are able to be cleansed of our sins and transformed into the image of Christ by this miracle of Grace. God sending his son to die for our sins.
Paul shows how the love of God for us is so strong that nothing can come between it but us… Our guilt that we couldn’t possibly deserve what God has done for us. But that is the true miracle of Grace.
“Do you ever think that, because you aren’t good enough for God he will not save you? Do you ever feel salvation is for everyone else but you? Then these verses are especially for you. If God gave his son for you he isn’t going to hold back the gift of salvation. If Christ gave his life for you he isn’t going to turn around and condemn you. The book of Romans is more than a theological explanation of God’s redeeming grace….it is a letter of comfort and confidence addressed to you.” -Life Application Bible
This is the Grace that we all can rely on when our life is in its darkest days. No matter what we are going through God will not abandon us and his love for us cannot be broken by anyone or anything. However we do have to do our part. It all starts with vs. 28. “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the miracle of Easter. The unbelievable gift of love and grace you gave to us. We pray that we love you with all our hearts and live our lives giving back this love and grace to others for the transformation of the world. In Christ name we pray- Amen
*Contributed by Rich McGimsey
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