WATCHWORD:
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 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. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered 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, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:34-39
Meditation:
Gloom, Despair, Misery
Hee Haw was a funny/corny TV show that was fairly popular for nearly 25 years, ending in 1992. Buck Owens and Roy Clark were a couple of stars of the show and their version of “Gloom, Despair, and Agony” drew applause and laughs each time they trotted it out. Remember it?
Gloom, despair, and agony on me, Deep, dark depression, excessive misery
If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. Gloom, despair, and agony on me.
I would’ve added another verse but I really don’t want to offend anyone. Sufficient to note that in some crazy – funny way we can relate a little to all that. Not that we have gloom, despair and misery in our lives, but we do have adversity, setbacks, and matters that just don’t go according to our plans. Sometimes those little bumps in the road get us down, and dims our usual sunny disposition. Sometimes the bump turns into a mountain and in those moments, we’re likely to cry out, “Jesus help me!”
We may call to mind that encouraging phrase in Romans 8 that tells us that “all things work for the good of those who love Jesus”, and we may take encouragement from that. But the question that adversity may pose to us is, will this bump, that I am struggling with, separate me from the love of Christ? That is when our faith answers, saying to us, with conviction, “Heck, no!”
But wait, look at verse 31. See that big little word “if” as in “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Most of us believe that God is for us. Even those who we believe have committed crimes, think that God is for them. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit guards this statement with an “if”, so we may know that just because we think God is with us doesn’t make it so. God is only for us if we are committed to Him through Jesus Christ.
So, let us have no doubt, the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a Saint. Just keep in mind that the foundation of Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the grace of God, in His love for us, demonstrated clearly there on Calvary Hill. With that fixed within us, we, indeed, are more than conquerors through Him. No more gloom, despair and misery for us. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Cowboy Joe was telling his fellow cowboys, back on the ranch, about his first visit to a big-city church.
“When I got there, they had me park my old truck in the corral,” Joe began.
“You mean the parking lot,” interrupted Charlie, a more worldly fellow.
“I walked up the trail to the gate,” Joe continued.
“The sidewalk to the door,” Charlie corrected him.
“Inside the door, I was met by this dude,” Joe went on.
“That would be the usher,” Charlie explained.
“Well, the usher led me down the chute,” Joe said.
“You mean the aisle,” Charlie said.
“Then he led me to a stall and told me to sit there,” Joe continued.
“Pew,” Charlie retorted.
“Yeah,” recalled joe. “That’s what that pretty lady said when I sat down beside her.”
Closing Prayer:
Dear Lord, I come to You today to ask for help. You are my everything. Lord, I need rest. I give You my worry. Take it, Lord. I accept Your peace, love, and understanding. Help me to turn to You and not to myself. Help me to stop doing and start trusting. Help me to wait on Your answers, because I know that they are good. Give me wisdom, hope, and peace. Thank you, Lord, for Your patience and grace. I love You, and I know You love me so much more than I could ever imagine. Amen.
