In Christ - Pt 10

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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. (Romans 8:31-39 ESV). We come to the end of our little series in Romans 8 with a wonderful declaration. The Apostle Paul simply says, “God is for us.” The Bible uses several different prepositions to qualify God’s relationship with his people. The angel said Jesus should be called “Immanuel, (which means, God with us)” (cf. Matthew 1:23). John describes God’s incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ this way, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (cf. John 1:14). Here in Romans Paul assures us that “God is for us” (v. 31). Imagine that. The one who created light with a word is for us. The one who spoke and all creation came into existence is for us. The God who took on the Baal prophets through Elijah and defeated them is for us. The God who took down the walls of Jericho, defeated sin through the cross, and put death to death by raising Jesus from the dead is for us. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Paul’s rhetorical question is not meant to suggest that no one is against us but rather that no one and nothing opposed to those who are Christ’s can defeat them. Because God is for us, “we are more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37). Because God is for us, “[nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39). The God who is with us is also for us. What then shall we say to that! Today you may find yourself facing something that is difficult. It may be little more than a momentary inconvenience; or, it could be something seemingly in surmountable. Listen to the apostle and take heart. God is FOR you! He is not a judge waiting for you to appear in his court and receive your punishment; he is your savior who is inexorably drawing you to himself and an eternal life that cannot be imagined for its surpassing greatness!

In Christ - Pt 9

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 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 among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:26-30 ESV). I’m going through a period of time when my physicians have decided that it is better for me to begin to change some of my medications. As many of you know from personal experience, that’s always a bit of an adjustment. On the bright side, I am told that within a month the adjustment will have been completed and I will actually recapture some of my short term memory abilities. Mary will be happy about that! One of the side effects of the transition is that the pain management has not really been as good. We haven’t really gotten the right combination yet while avoiding any undue side effects. I’m confident we will, but we haven’t yet. So, with that little truth in mind, you can see my “hope” emerge. Yesterday I talked a little about that principle as Paul deals with it in the verses just prior to our reading today. However, today we look at an extension of this thought. Physical and emotional pain is awkward for a faith as full of promises as the Christian faith. We feel the difficulty at many points in our lives. When we share with others who are going through difficulty in their lives, it is often awkward. Either our awkwardness leads to silence, which does not feel quite right, or the awkwardness tends to prompt platitudes that come across as hollow. Sometimes we fall into the trap of comparing “battle scars,” which really never works. Paul finds a way through the awkwardness by naming pain as real: “the sufferings of this present time. We do not know what to pray for as we ought. . . . The creation was subjected to futility. . . . [We] groan inwardly” (Romans 8:18, 26, 20, 23). Paul does not gloss over pain with a cliché. He takes seriously the reality of suffering in our lives. But the apostle does not leave us to wallow in pain; he does not leave us without hope in pain. Paul knows the whole story. Beginning with God’s foreknowledge and ending with God’s intention to glorify the ones he loves, Paul relocates our suffering in the much larger redemption story God is telling in the world. That larger story gives us permission to feel deeply the reality and sting of pain without giving up hope that God has better things in store for us. And, he does! Jesus’ resurrection proves that. Now, that’s something to share that will not sound hollow!

In Christ - Pt 8

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25 ESV). Hope is one of the great words of the Christian faith, but it tends to be overused and misused and so has lost some of its force. We tend to use the word “hope” as if it meant wishful thinking. “I hope my team wins the game.” “I hope I get that for my birthday.” But for Christians hope carries with it a certain confidence that God’s promises will be realized, including the redemption of our bodies. That’s why the author to the letter of Hebrews speaks of faith in terms of hope, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for” (cf. Hebrews 11:1). Paul raises the bar for hope when he writes, “In this hope we were saved.” Hope is the confident expectation that though the circumstances of our lives may suggest otherwise, God’s good purposes for the world and for us will come to fruition. The news reports suggest that suffering overwhelms our world, brokenness rules our days, and disappointment is the inevitable conclusion to our dreams. But hope declares confidence in the God who will accomplish his purposes. Though we may not see it now, which is what makes it hope, we are confident we will see and experience God’s final victory one day. I find it altogether logical that hope’s first cultivated spiritual discipline is patience. Patience is difficult, even countercultural, in our instant gratification world. But hope gives us the strength to endure with patience until the very end. I’ve known this to be true in both the little delays of life and the longer, more prolonged parentheses waiting for some conclusion in life. Having reached a stage in my life when more of it is over than is left, I can honestly say that it doesn’t get any less painful waiting; however, it does get easier. I can now look back and see the many times God has done precisely what was necessary and good at just the right time. There is no need to expect any less for the future. He is going to complete this work begun many years ago in Christ. My hope is not some empty desire; it is the rock solid knowledge and experience I have with my God who provides for me nothing but good, even from the worst! Trust in Him!

In Christ - Pt 7

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25 ESV). I couldn’t leave yesterday’s reading without focusing on the concept of “the new creation.” The effects of sin in the world go far deeper than simply distorting our ability to choose well when confronted with decisions on how to live. They are broader than just the disruption of God’s relationship with humankind. The whole creation is affected by sin. Certainly Adam and Eve experienced a division between themselves that they had not known before they fell; they also experienced a separation from the God who made them. But even that isn’t the whole story. Human disobedience also triggered a curse on creation. “Cursed is the ground because of you,” God declared (cf. Genesis 3:17). I have heard of some who genuinely believe that what presently have in our world is what we will have in heaven, maybe just a little “shinier.” Mary and I are fortunate to have two vehicles. I drive a 2003 Tahoe with 245,000 miles on it; Mary drives a 2016 Rav4 with 1,500 miles on it right now. Obviously, they both are in working condition. We drive them every day. However, can I tell you there’s a world of difference between the two? Immediately you would say, “One is old and one is new.” However, the differences goes beyond their age. The Tahoe has been worn with use, while the Rav4 is still in that “breaking in” stage. Our world is like that in many ways. Since the beginning of time and the sin of man invaded God’s creation, our world has been “worn” with use. For the most part it still works, but not as it was intended, nor as it did when God created it. God has not abandoned his plan for creation. He will redeem it as well as man. Paul says that since the fall “the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth” (v. 22). That groaning is not in vain, though, because God intends to bring a new creation to birth. That’s why when John peered past time into eternity he saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” and heard Jesus declare, “Behold, I am making all things new” (cf. Revelation 21:1, 5). Creation, once declared “good” by God in the beginning, will experience the full redemption of God in the end. God’s redemptive purposes for the world include us but are so much bigger and broader and better. What a glorious God we have!

In Christ - Pt 6

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25 ESV). Every time I go to do one of my every eight week phlebotomies, I am reminded how fortunate I am in dealing with “suffering.” It may be true that I have seen some measure of difficulty in life; however, as I see those who are getting treatment for various cancers and other diseases, I know that my journey has been pretty easy actually. The physical sufferings I experience are really nothing compared to others I have known and seen. The Apostle Paul knew something about suffering also. It was not an academic exercise for him. Paul knew all about suffering firsthand. The Christians who received his letter knew the pain of persecution at the hands of oppressive emperors in Rome. AS I write today, I do want to minimize your suffering. We know suffering too. Depending on our situation our suffering goes by different names: the agony of losing a loved one way too early; the pain of living in the shadow of persecution; the vicarious suffering we feel on behalf of those who are hurting. The physical challenges of ill health and the pain of broken relationships are all too common. Remember, our faith never promises that we won’t have to suffer. Christ never assured us that everything would happen as we desire. Suffering has always been in tension with the promises of the faith we hold and proclaim. Paul does not shy away from acknowledging “the sufferings of this present time.” He never tries to ignore pain or gloss over it as something trivial. However, he does urge us to look to a day when all the world’s pain will give way to the new creation God is bringing about. And he suggests putting our pain in perspective: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us.” The great promise of our faith is that one day we will exchange all the sufferings we have ever known for a glory we cannot now imagine. I know many of you who read these devotionals personally. Some of you suffer terribly. Can I encourage you by simply saying it is coming to a close; and, perhaps very soon. Jesus has already won the glory for us. It awaits! Keep moving to that great day of God almighty!

In Christ - Pt 5

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 ESV). Yesterday I spoke of calling on our heavenly Father “early and often.” The apostle in this section of Romans 8 helps us understand that even the content of that “calling” is undergirded by the Holy Spirit. When we pray we never pray alone. Even when praying privately we do not pray by ourselves. The Spirit prays both in us and for us. So much of the attention on prayer is devoted to our act of praying. We attend conferences on pursuing a deeper prayer life. We sometimes fall prey to the thinking that the more people we have praying the more likely it is that God will hear and answer our prayers. We ask pastors for helpful hints or strategies on a more effective prayer life. While there is certainly nothing wrong with pursuing a deeper prayer life, or asking our friends to pray for us, or finding helpful practices to enable us to pray in faithfulness, it’s important to remember that our efforts aren’t the most important thing in prayer. The most important thing is that the Spirit helps us pray. I found it amusing when I read the following list of children’s prayers:  Dear God: Please send a new baby for Mommy. The new baby you sent last week cries too much. - Debbie, 7  Dear God: Who did you make smarter? Boys or girls? My sister and I want to know. - Jimmy, 6  Dear God: How many angels are there in heaven? I would like to be the first kid in my class to know the answer. - Norma, 8  Dear God: This is my prayer. Could you please give my brother some brains. So far he doesn’t have any. - Angela, 8  Dear Lord: Thank you for the nice day today. You even fooled the TV weather man. - Hank, 7  Dear God: Please help me is school. I need help in spelling, adding, history, geography and writing. I don’t need help in anything else. - Lois, 9  Dear Lord: Tomorrow is my birthday. Could you please put a rainbow in the sky? - Susan, 9  Dear God: I need a raise in my allowance. Could you have one of your angels tell my father. Thank you. David, 7  Dear God: I am saying my prayers for me and my brother, Billy, because Billy is six months old and he can’t do anything but sleep and wet his diapers. Diane, 8 After you finish your chuckling, think about the great truth that these children certainly understand the relationship they have with their heavenly Father. They simply ask. Isn’t that what children do? Pray, by all means pray. Pray your heart and desires, be guided by the Scriptures in your prayers. But with all the important lessons you have learned about prayer, remember this first: “the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (v. 27). Just talk to your Father in heaven!

In Christ - Pt 4

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:12-17 ESV). The Apostles’ Creed, which appears as early as 390 AD, is a compilation of truths adopted and expressed by the early church. It was not written by the apostles, though it certainly contains the primary doctrines expressed by those who’s writings we possess. It is as follows: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Within this creed is one of the great confessions of the Christian faith. It is that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God. When God established his covenant with the people of Israel he named them as his children, “You are the sons of the Lord your God” (cf. Deuteronomy 14:1). The doors of that covenant have swung wide open in Jesus Christ, so that now non-Jews may also be included in the covenant and be named as children of God. Jesus is God’s Son by nature. Our incorporation in the family is by way of adoption. Paul says, “You did not receive a spirit of slavery, but you have received the Spirit of adoption” (v. 15). As God’s children we are given the same benefits that belong to God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Those benefits include the privilege of calling on the Father, like children calling for a parent in the darkness of night during a thunderstorm. When we call, he hears. When we cry, he listens. He is our Father; he hears and listens because we belong to him and he cares for us. Our very crying out to him is evidence that we belong to him; our calling on him is the reminder that we are his children. Perhaps the greatest tragedy in our modern era is the independence we cherish so much. It prompts us to call on our Father only after we have exhausted all of our meager resources and failed. Call on Him early and often. We are his children!