2009-05-29 - The Wonderful Truth About God

Romans 8:26-39 (NKJV) Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

"For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In this passage written by Paul to the church in Rome we see wonderful news about God's love for us. First, notice that in verses 26-27 that the Holy Spirit is interceding for us. He dwells in us and prays when we cannot. Also in verse 34, we find that Jesus is at the Father's side interceding for us in heaven. In Heaven and on earth we have God interceding for us to God. As verse 31 tells us God is for us. He loves us and absolutely nothing can separate us from his love.

Whenever I read verse 38 I imagine Paul sitting in front of a bunch of curious kids. Then he says, "Nothing can separate us". At that moment, the children unleash a blizzard of "what-if" questions. What if we die? What if we live? What if angels get between us? What if demons get between us? What if God goes way up high on a mountain? What if he goes to a faraway place? What if. what if. what if? And Paul sits there saying, "Nope not even that can separate you from God". I know that's not how this passage was written but that's how I see it played out in my mind. And no matter the "what-if" that you and I may come up with Paul's answer would be the same. "Nope not even that can separate you from God."

The wonderful truth about God is that he is for us. He is so for us that he intercedes for us and won't let anything come between us.

IHFHBOH
Adam

acdum@hotmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All scripture references from KJV unless otherwise noted