Secure

Good Morning! 

Saturday was a beautiful, sunny February day and I hope you all enjoyed it.  Yesterday was cloudy and a little chilly in the Northeast Georgia mountains.  I really enjoyed my weekend with four performances of Number the Stars.  And I have to admit that I am pooped but happy. The run is over and we return to a more normal life … but I am so glad I got to participate. 

How secure are you?  This morning’s verse of the day on Biblegateway is Romans 8:35,37.  Let’s take a look at the passage …

Romans 8:31-39 English Standard Version (ESV)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[a] against us? 32 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? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 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.[b] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded 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 sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.

Footnotes:

a.     Romans 8:31 Or who is

b.     Romans 8:34 Or Is it Christ Jesus who died… for us?

Paul’s point is that we should not live our life in fear but in confidence, knowing that God has redeemed us from what we once were.  God is working in the lives of believers to fashion them into new creations … being justified, sanctified … and, when this earthly life is over, glorified.  All of this has a great price … the price of Jesus, the Christ, who died for each one of us.

Satan and his forces would like for us to live defeated lives.  He wants us to cower before the rules of this world who tells us to sit down and shut up about our great salvation.  Satan wants to convince us that God’s power is insufficient.  But God reminds us that we are not just conquerors … we are more than conquerors … for nothing can stand against God and His elect. 

So, as we begin this week, we can stand and speak.  We can walk in confidence because we are God’s children and He is our Father.  He, who holds the keys to all creation, walks with us every moment of every day.  Stand secure in the love of Christ who overcomes all.

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, give me the courage to stand this day in Your power and Your glory so that the world can see Jesus in me. In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Romans 8:31-39