June 5 - Do You Believe God?

Read Romans 8:28-39

Context: Paul has been talking about how the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness by knowing what we need and interceding for us when we are unable to express our own needs.

Text:
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He 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? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? 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. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[c]
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[d] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither 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. (NIV)

Footnotes:
Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God
Romans 8:28 Or works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who
Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22
Romans 8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers
taken from www.biblegateway.com

After a passage like this I just want to jump up and say 'Go God!' He is so awesome and amazing and yet most days, even most of each day, I merrily go on my own way and forget to acknowledge that fact.

I know you have heard this passage before, probably many times, but do you actually believe God is working for the good of those who love him? We read it to ourselves and quote it to others in times of trouble, but unless we truly believe that God is at work in every instance of our lives we are just being 'clanging cymbals' whenever we recite it.

Because we live in a fallen world, I imagine that you can look at yourself and those around you and find at least one person in the midst of a crisis. Even if you can't see him, God is at work in that situation. Your confidence in that fact is one of the best things you can give to others during their times of trial. Saying these words may not be a comfort at the time, but your strength and attitude toward the situation will speak at a level that matches your conviction. Paul was convinced that NOTHING could separate us from God, and that brought him and others through incredible tribulations.

So the challenge today is to look inside and examine your heart. Do you really believe God does what he promises? Or are you desperately hoping that it is true...there is a difference that will show up when you try to comfort others.