It's my first day of vacation and I don't have a lot of time. So today I'm asking all of you to help me in creating a post for today with your responses to this passage from Romans 8.
"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 it 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.
So, what do you think? 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? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Romans 8:28-38 , The Message)
We were created to become like Christ and God has gifted us with all of the same tools Jesus had. We have the present God, the Holy Spirit, working on us because of God's love for us and because of our love for God. There's even one thing that we have the Jesus didn't...
...we have Jesus on our side, working on our behalf, whispering in our ear, touching our very soul with his, praying to the Father for us.
That makes us pretty special, huh? Well, what does that mean to you?
I can't wait to hear your responses.
Peace ><>
pc
6 comments:
first of all, i am and will always be in awe of the statement in the first few lines of this passage...that God modeled us along the lines of Jesus' life, even though humans came along way before Jesus. we think about God having a plan for us all the time, but sometimes it's hard to imagine that God has THAT plan for ALL humans created, ever. wow.
second, i look at my own child & then try to imagine knowing 3000 years (or however many) before he was born just how awesome he would be...and then having to sit there for that whole period of time knowing that I would have to watch him go through that awful sequence of events and that, while i would have the power to stop it, i wouldn't do it because i loved humanity that much. i would take on a pack of wildcats any day if they tried to hurt my family, and i'm sure God wanted to do that as well, and i just can't imagine him putting himself through that kind of torture for that long.
but God did. and so my response to that passage is wonderful, wonderful peace of mind...by the cross, i know how much God loves me. practically, for me that means that no matter how many times i have to be "the bad guy" in any one of a number of situations, God will still love me. people may leave my office or my court call ready to hit me in the head, they may be hurt unintentionally by things I say and hold that against me, or they may be disappointed & fade out of my life because I can't devote enough time to them, but God will not turn away. God knows that most of the time, in order for us to acheive the greatest good, someone will get hurt. but with God on my side, i'll have all of eternity to make it up to those people i fell out of favor with. God loves me for who i am no matter what anybody else thinks, and as long as i don't lose that, i'm just fine.
...if my god is with me, who can be against me?...
You both ROCK!
Peace ><>
pc
I 've read Joel Ostten's Your Best Life Now and listened to Issac Houghton's(sp) God is My Friend.
I used to think that these were bold, self serving statements.
I know now that there is much truth in these staements and that God's is my friend, that he really persues me daily, relentlesly.
There is only one thing that stands betwqeen me and God, and that is me. We are getting closer every day, which is a beautiful thing.
PC, You Rock too!
God's love is unconditional, never ending and stronger than any bond we have here on earth. He will never leave us, He will never turn his back on us and He will never give up on us. I am a forgiven child of God...yes GK..we are children of God..heirs to the most royal family line. How awesome. Life is not always easy, the road may seem uphill...but with God on our side...we can absolutely face anything. I can say that now with the strongest of faith. I have not always been able to say that...but my faith is growing ever so strong. My trust in God is growing ever so strong. He didn't give up on me...even when I questioned Him...he just patiently directed my path...pulled me back on the road when I strayed off...kept me warm when I was in the dark...carried me when I was too weak to go on...wiped my tears when I cried out in pain. He wraps His strong arms around me and He holds me tight! With that kind of love...we can handle what comes our way. "Our God is an awesome God!"
okay, you all rock. Thanks for the blessing!
Peace ><>
pc
Sorry I am behind on reading and responding, but what blessings to read, hear and feel in words!
God is the whisper in our ear, He is the faith to walk thru the turmoil, He is Love beyond understanding, He is my advocate. He knows my heart, good days and bad. On days, He needs me to catch up to Him and on others He smiles as He watches me "getting the blessings".
Blessed beyond measure, love in abundance, holding us in His loving arms,secure in His faithfulness. Wow, we are fortunate to be His Kids.
I am so happy to be called one of God's kids!
Rest, reknew, respond and revisit all that is yours. Happy R&R!
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