"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 with groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26)

It is amazing to have such a partner in life. Throughout the entire chapter of Romans 8, Paul is teaching us about the marvelous companionship we have with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16 that it was expedient for him to return to the Father in order to send to us the Holy Spirit ( John 16:7 ). He went on to explain how important He would be to us. "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come" ( John 16:13 ). The Holy Spirit was given to guide us into all truth and to be a helpmate for us while we navigate this life.

Paul has revealed to us several things in Romans 8 concerning the Holy Spirit. First, that those who are in Christ Jesus and walk according to the Spirit will face no condemnation in life ( Romans 8:1 ). Second, those who are controlled by the Spirit will experience life and soul peace in the midst of trouble (Romans 8:6). Third, the Spirit living inside of us will give life to our mortal bodies and we will live forever ( Romans 8:11 ). Fourth, those who live by the Spirit are children of God ( Romans 8:14 ) and He testifies and confirms with our spirit this very truth ( Romans 8:16 ). And today he reveals that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we pray ( Romans 8:26 ). He turns our prayers into acceptable, powerful utterances before the Lord. All of these things are wonderful alone, but we have received the entire package through faith Jesus.

Prayer is a powerful tool. Prayer releases the power of God upon the earth. John talks about praying in faith according to the will of God. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him" ( I John 5:14-15 ). If we pray in faith and pray according to Gods will, then know and have confidence that God will answer us. The problem with this is a lot of times we don't understand God's will or we don't ask in faith. Paul concurred with this when he said "...the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for..." ( Romans 8:26 ). The amazing thing about this is that we have the Holy Spirit to help us in our weaknesses when we pray. Paul said the Holy Spirit takes the words we speak and translates them into powerful supplication before the Lord on our behalf. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance" ( Romans 8:26 Amp ).The Holy Spirit is our prayer partner, helping us to release the power of God to act in our behalf.

James said, "...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" ( James 5:16b ). Through faith in Jesus we have been made righteous in his sight ( Romans 3:22 ). So we know our prayers yield tremendous power. To release this power, we must pray and allow the Holy Spirit to join with us and help us on our behalf.

Today, I am so blessed to know all the ways that the Holy Spirits helps us. What a great reminder to know that we are not alone but that we have this amazing gift living on the inside of us to show us and remind us the truth. Today, may you take this word and join with the Holy Spirit in release the power of prayer in your life, Amen.

Previous: Romans 8:25  Next: Romans 8:27

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently" (Romans 8:25)

In a world that seems ever increasingly dark and hopeless, as Christians our hope is based upon the promise of God. This promise is our salvation. While we have already received the first fruits of our salvation, the promised Holy Spirit, we are still waiting for the rest of the promise to be fulfilled. Because of this, we groan inwardly and long to be reunited with the Lord in heaven, waiting for our adoption as his children to be revealed ( Romans 8:23 ). However, based on this hope we can wait with patience and with purpose until we see our final eternal redemption.

The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure" ( Romans 8:25 Amp ). Patience is not an inactive thing. Many misconstrue the meaning of patience to denote that we passively endure everything thrown our way as we wait to go to heaven. But this is not the picture painted for us in the Bible of how we are to wait. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" ( John 14:12 ). Jesus didn't sit back and go through life passively or aimlessly, he broke the power of darkness everywhere he went. Then he commissioned us to do the very same things and gave us the Holy Spirit to enable us to do it.

Waiting patiently with composure separates us from the world. Having this hope inside of us brings us peace in a world where trouble and heartache abound. Jesus reminded us in John that the Holy Spirit whom he's given us is the first fruits of our redemption and part of his job is to keep us in a state of peace. "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" ( John 14:26-27 ). Knowing this, we can be encouraged that we can live separately from the world waiting in patience and in hope for the Lord's return.

Paul instructs us in this very truth to encourage us to remain hopeful with an eternal perspective in mind. Paul himself longed to be reunited with Christ Jesus, but knew that remaining in the world was more beneficial for everyone around him. "I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body" ( Philippians 1:23-24 ). He could speak this because he knew that waiting patiently did not mean waiting passively. He knew that by remaining in this world meant salvation for those he came in contact with. He was so convinced of this that he exclaimed, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" ( Philippians 1:20 ), in other words, for me to go on living in this body means that people would see Christ and be forever changed.

While we wait in patience, it is important to understand the reason behind it so we don't lose hope. Peter explained these things to his brethren who were looking for the Lord's return, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" ( II Peter 3:9 ). He went on to say, "Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation... ( II Peter 3:15 ). And so it is necessary for us to keep this in remembrance while we wait for Jesus to return. He is not willing that any should perish and so in His grace he waits for others to come to him. Since he has commissioned us for this specific purpose, he is waiting on us to fulfill this great commission, in order that he might come back and redeem a full and powerful church.

So hope is necessary for life, hope with patience will keep us focused on the task at hand. A few of Paul's concluding thoughts in the book of Romans seem very fitting for today's thoughts, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" ( Romans 15:13 ). Today it is my prayer that you rejoice in the hope to which you were called. May you experience the peace that only God can bring and may you abound in the power of the Holy Spirit to be Christ in this world, amen!

Previous: Romans 8:24  Next: Romans 8:26

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?" (Romans 8:24)

Hope is an amazing thing. Hope is the catalyst to our faith. Hope based upon the sweet and precious promises of the Lord is what keeps us moving forward in this life. Paul said in yesterdays passage that our bodies were groaning on the inside as we wait for the redemption of our bodies and adoption as sons and daughters. In today passage he writes, it is 'in this hope that we were saved'. We are longing to be clothed in our heavenly garment and to be with Christ throughout eternity. This hope is the realization of our salvation but while we are on this earth we are still waiting expectantly for it .

The dictionary defines hope in these ways: to cherish a desire with anticipation; to desire with expectation of obtainment; to expect with confidence. Hope is not a passive thing. Hope is knowing God and knowing that what he promised He will provide. To have hope, you must have faith. The writer of Hebrews said in chapter 11, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" ( Hebrews 11:1 ) the King James version says that "faith is the substance of things hoped for..." and the Amplified reveals, "NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]" ( Hebrews 11:1 Amp ). Faith is a substance, a tangible reality. Faith is activated by hope and they work together. To have hope, you must have faith.

In other words to have faith carry you through to realization of what you hope for, you have to be fully convinced in what you are hoping for, this takes faith. Basing your hope upon a promise of God will awaken faith when everything seems hopeless and that faith will carry you through until you have what you are hoping for. Hebrews says "let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" ( Hebrews 10:23 ). Faith is what moves you and is what moves God. Knowing God and His promises will propel you into the realm of hope. Remember, hope is to expect with confidence and knowing God brings confidence because he is faithful to what he has spoken.

Paul said in today's passage that our hope is resting on the Lord. He will return for us and redeem our physical bodies to be reunited with Him forever. Paul has encouraged us to remain in hope, resting securely in this precious promise. Faith is what sustains our hope us as we wait for this promise to be fulfilled. Paul said in I Thessalonians to "... be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet" ( 1 Thessalonians 5:8 ). He knew that a helmet protects the head and that the hope of our salvation is what protects our mind and thoughts. Today, I pray that you let the knowledge of this hope protect and guard your heart and mind. I pray that you rejoice in the hope to which you were called in Christ Jesus and you wait in expectation of this hope to be fulfilled, amen.

Previous: Romans 8:23  Next: Romans 8:25

"Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:23)

Heart change comes quickly on the heels of Salvation. This is because at Salvation our entire being and nature is completely changed when we get the Holy Spirit deposited inside of us testifying to the fact that we now belong to the family of God. The Holy Spirit is given to us as the first fruits of our eternal redemption through Christ Jesus. This is a foretaste of the blissful things that are to come. Our bodies long to be clothed with Christ and like creation, we groan inwardly a waiting for this adoption to take place.

If the world and it's desires held anything over you, once you are born again, the illusions of this world seem to fade away. Replacing them comes a longing to be reunited with Christ. Paul talks in detail about this desire. In II Corinthians 5 Paul talks about a inward groaning in which we long to be further clothed and fitted with our heavenly dwelling. On this earth we long and groan under the burden of this body because we are being fitted with a heavenly body fashioned after Jesus ( II Corinthians 5:2-5 ). But in the same way that he is preparing us and making us fit for this heavenly body, the Holy Spirit is given to us as a guarantee of the fulfillment of this promise while on this earth ( II Corinthians 5:5 Amp ). So in this we can rejoice knowing that we have already received the firstfruits of our redemption.

The amazing thing about knowing this promise is that we can rest assured of our future with God. He left nothing up to chance but has done everything to bring restoration to us through his son Jesus. Today I am so blessed to be called a child of God. I am so blessed to have the Holy Spirit inside of me to testify to this wonderful truth every moment of the day. I pray that this truth blessed you today, Amen!

Previous: Romans 8:22  Next: Romans 8:24

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" (Romans 8:22)

God created a paradise and sin ruined it. Fortunately for us that is not the end of the story, creation is longing to be restored to the state it was created to be in, based on the promise of God. This promise was fulfilled in Jesus and now Paul describes the physical fulfillment of this promise as something creation is in anticipation for. He likens this waiting period to the labor pains of childbirth. The process might be hard and might take awhile but once started there is no way to stop it. And the end result makes the whole thing worth it.

Many people look around and make a judgment call based on what they see. They look at the state of our natural realm and see death and decay. Our news channels are filled with warnings of global warming ruining our environment. Many organizations rally the governments and it's citizens to save the planet. However, the Bible says that creation as already been saved.

After taking all of this in it would be easy to say that God hasn't fulfilled his promise to creation yet based on the natural evidence of this. However, when Jesus came, I John says, that he came to destroy the works of the devil ( I John 3:8 ). Since he has already come, Satan's power over creation has been destroyed. We know this because Jesus came the first time to reconcile us to the Father and he will come the second time to redeem us and take us home. Based on this we understand that creation has already received the first fruits of it's redemption because Jesus has sent to us the Holy Spirit to testify that we are his children. Paul said earlier in this chapter that this revelation of the sons of God is what creation has been waiting for ( Romans 8:19 ).

Paul uses the illustration of childbirth to illuminate this very truth and to help us understand that just because we cannot see it, doesn't mean it hasn't happened yet. Pregnancy is a sign that something already took place. When a child is conceived the evidence of this isn't apparent for a time, even to the women. A women doesn't become pregnant when there is evidence to support that she is bearing a child, a women becomes pregnant at conception of this child. This illustration helps us to understand that the physical evidence always follows the act. The spiritual always births the physical. Creations redemption is already complete in the spiritual realm and now it is experiencing the labor pains that have started announcing the physical manifestation of this.

The amazing thing about labor and childbirth is that afterward comes fullness of joy. The pains and hardship experienced are quickly forgotten once a baby is held in arms. Countless women cannot recall any details of their labor because the joy of motherhood is so great. Knowing what this type of suffering produces gives courage to all to endure it. The same is true with creation. Expectation of being restored to a perfect sinless existence is enough to endure hardship right now. Creation is waiting in anticipation for it's final redemption because it knows the One who promised is faithful. Today, I join with creation in praising our God, looking forward to that day when I will see him face to face. May you also join with us in celebration our full redemption through Christ Jesus, Amen!

Previous: Romans 8:21  Next: Romans 8:23

"[in hope] that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God" (Romans 8:21)

Isn't is amazing that part of our redemption was the total restoration of all things. Jesus came to get everything back that was sold into slavery at the fall. Adam plunged everything lock, stock and barrel into death and decay, this included creation. But since that time, creation is waiting expectantly for the sons of God to be revealed ( Romans 8:19 ) so that it will be liberated from bondage along with mankind ( Romans 8:21 ).

Through faith in Jesus, we have been redeemed. Which means Jesus purchased us with his precious blood and brought us restoration with God. The idea of redemption was not a new thing, in the Old Testament a person could redeem a slave, in which they were enabled to repurchase or buy them back to exist once again in their household. In the New Testament, our redemption is synonymous with both deliverance from sin and freedom from sin's captivity. Jesus purchased our freedom through his sacrifice upon the cross and because of it we are completely free from everything that held us in chains before this time. This redemption by Jesus was foretold back in the garden and since then mankind and creation looked forward to fulfillment of this promise. Through acceptance of this gift, by faith we have been restored to God's household. We are now called his children and we are blameless before him just as if the garden and Adam's trespass had never existed. Galatians tells us that through Jesus we now belong to the promise given to Abraham. "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" ( Galatians 3:26-29 ).

Just like creation we long to be restored in bodily form to our original state. However, on this earth we are waiting for full redemption. Right now we have receive a part of it. We have been given a new born again spirit as a down payment to our physical redemption that is coming very soon. "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory" ( Ephesians 1:13-14 ).The Holy Spirit was given to us as our guarantee that we would see full redemption. Our new spirit is the part of us that testifies that we are God's children ( Romans 8:16 ). And if we are his children then we are his heirs ( Romans 8:17 ). The Holy Spirit operating in the sons and daughters of God on this earth, testifies to the rest of creation that it will see fulfillment of God's promise as well. Currently we have only received the first fruits of this redemption, but as the old saying goes, 'the best is yet to come!'

Paul goes onto say in Romans 8, "For in this hope we were saved..." ( Romans 8:24 ). Today, I am thankful to have received a down payment of my coming bodily redemption. Peter tells us "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect" ( I Peter 1:18-19 ). In the cleansing act of this blood you have been justified and redeemed. Through the Holy Spirit you have been given everything needed to navigate this world. Creation is rejoicing in the fact that you are a child of God. Today, my this revelation of your precious redemption change your life, Amen!

Previous: Romans 8:20  Next: Romans 8:22

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope..." (Romans 8:20)

Unlike Adam, creation didn't have a choice when it was brought into the bondage of the kingdom of darkness. That is because creation and all that was in it was given to Adam in the garden. In Genesis, God told Adam, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-everything that has the breath of life in it-I give every green plant for food." And it was so" ( Genesis 1:28-30 ). God created everything, but he gave authority for everything that he created to Adam. It was passed from God to Adam and Adam was the representative before God for mankind, the animals, the earth and all of creation.

Now when the serpent deceived Eve in the garden and she coerces Adam to partake, Adam was the one responsible before God not Eve. Because Adam was the one given authority for everything created with instructions by God. He disobeyed a direct command by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Because of it, Adam's authority and everything he ruled over legally passed over to Satan and the dominion of darkness. Since God gave it to Adam, he couldn't rightfully take it back from Satan when Adam gave it to him. Because of this transgression, he plunged mankind into sin and this became our new nature. Creation was also part of that transaction. Our world, created to be a paradise, experienced decay and death after the fall as well. Paul said in today's verse, that "creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope..." ( Romans 8:20 ). The hope it is referring to comes in the next verse, "that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God" ( Romans 8:21 ).Creation is waiting expectantly to be liberated when the children of God are revealed.

When all of this happened in the garden, God provided a way out for all of mankind and all of creation. Even as he deal with the situation at hand, he told the serpent, there is one coming who will crush your head ( Genesis 3:15 ). He knew from the very beginning that if he was going to go through with his plan to create a mankind that we would screw it up. So before he even started to do what he wanted to do, he had the plan in place. Jesus would be the One who would crush Satan's head. I Peter 1 tells us that Jesus was the lamb slain chosen before the foundation of the world ( I Peter 1:19-20 ). With the plan in place, with the sacrifice chosen, with the way to undo what would eventually happen, God went ahead and created everything he wanted out of his desire for a family.

Now Jesus came in human form, a hostage to Satan, under his rule, dominion and authority. Since Adam gave over mankind and creation to this kingdom in the garden, God had to take it back legally and rightfully. He did this by sending Jesus in the disguise of sinful man to fulfill the entire law. The law outline how to break free of the curse yet we were powerless to do it because of the sin nature that we were in bondage to. So when Jesus did it, he earned eternal life free from bondage of death which was part of the curse, stemming from the fall in the garden. In other words, by defeating death, he took back all authority, rule and power that Satan had got from Adam. He completely defeated and disarmed him on the cross. "having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" ( Colossians 2:15 ). So through Jesus living a perfect life, fulfilling the law, being our sin offering before God, dying for us and being raised to life, he took back all the authority that was stolen by Satan in the garden.

After he defeated them he did an amazing thing, II Corinthians 5 says, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" ( II Corinthians 5:21 ). He took his right standing with God and offered it to us free of charge. He took our sin, our shame and our weakness and traded it for his righteousness, his forgiveness and his love. He justified us before God, which literally means that he took us back to the state that mankind was in before the fall, as if there had never been that transgression in the first place. He did what he originally intended to do in the garden, that was to create a family. He chose us and through faith in Jesus, we choose him. Through this union we become children of God and he sends his Spirit into our hearts to testify to this very fact ( Romans 8:16 ). This is what creation is waiting for, because it knows that it's redemption is drawing neigh.

The amazing thing about all of this, after everything he went through, after getting all authority back under his control, Jesus then gave the authority back to His church. We are join heirs with Christ which means that everything he has, he shares with us. He is the head, but we are his body. We are his ambassadors on this earth to do the amazing things which he has called us to do. Paul said in Ephesians that he wants us to understand "... his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way" ( Ephesians 1:19-23 ).

We are now called into a wonderful partnership with Christ. We have been given His authority on this earth to operate as he operated on this earth. Just before Jesus ascended into heaven he commissioned us, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well" ( Mark 16:15-18 ). He did this by saying in Matthew, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..." ( Matthew 28:18-19 ). In all of these things we operate as his dear children whom he loves. Jesus undid everything that happened in the garden and we reap the benefits of it. Like creation we are waiting for our final redemption, knowing that time is short, but also knowing that while we are here we have a job to do.

Today I am so blessed to join with creation in hope that God's children will continue to be revealed upon this earth. Today, I pray that you know who you are in Christ Jesus and what he has provided for you so that you will go and make disciples for Jesus, all stemming from his love and authority. Amen!

Previous: Romans 8:19  Next: Romans 8:21

"The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed" (Romans 8:19)

So many people worship nature, but the Bible says that nature worships its creator. Isn't it interesting that creation knows what lots of people don't... that God designed and created it. Because of this knowledge, creation is waiting expectantly for sons of God to be revealed.

This is because our natural, created world already knows and testifies the evidence of God. His footprint is on everything that was created. Paul started out the book of Romans by exclaiming, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" ( Romans 1:20 ). Creation is God's handiwork so it is natural that creation longs for the same things that God desires, the final revelation of his love.

Why does nature wait longingly for the sons of God to be revealed? Verse 21 says that when this happens, nature will be set free from the decay it has been subjected to as a result of the fall of Adam ( Romans 8:21 ). Through Jesus' redemptive work on the cross, he didn't just reconcile mankind to himself, but he reconciled all things. I John 3:8 says that the reason Jesus came was to destroy the works of the devil. In other words, he came to completely undo everything that Satan did. Sin affected more than humankind at the fall. Sin also affected the natural world and the entire universe that God created, sin polluted His creation. The world was created as a paradise, but part of the curse of the fall was decay of the world ( Genesis 3:17-19 ).

In the same way that our spirits long to be with Christ and to be untied in bodily form with him, all of creation groans and longs to be liberated and brought into freedom as well. ( Romans 8:22 ). Creation is waiting expectantly for the sons and daughters of God to be reveled because this means that the promise spoken to Adam and Eve in the garden during the curse had come to pass. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." ( Genesis 3:15 ). Jesus came to get it all back! The revelation of his children shows that this has been accomplished because Jesus came and brought us peace with God and to destroy Satan and the affects of sin. He has reconciled us to God, which means that we are completely blameless before him and through faith we have be restored to the state that mankind was in before the fall. We are currently waiting for the redemption of our bodies from this world in the same way that creation is waiting for the redemption of its physical body. The revelation of God's children means that this is fast approaching. Paul say, "the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" ( Romans 8:22 ). If the birth pains have started then it is just a matter of time until we receive our final bodily redemption. This is good news!

Today I am thankful that creation reminds us to wait expectantly for the Lord's return. I am thankful that we have a sweet precious promise to look forward to knowing that Jesus is coming back for us very soon! Today, may you join with creation in celebrating the revelation of sonship through Christ Jesus, Amen!

Previous: Romans 8:18  Next: Romans 8:20

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18)

Paul had such an amazing perspective on things. He warned us that throughout this life we would face hardship and persecution at the hands of the world, but throughout all of it, he encourages us that this suffering does not even compare with the glory that has been revealed in us as God's children. He makes light of the afflictions endured at the hands of the world because he knew that what is inside us is so much greater in every way imaginable

In II Corinthians 4, he wrote about this very thing, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" ( II Corinthians 4:17-18 ). Oh to have an eternal perspective on the things of this earth. When we get a glimpse of eternity with our Lord and Savior in comparison to our earthly dwelling then the things that seem really important in this life lose their grip on us. We enter into a new reality, a true and lasting reality.

This reality starts with understanding that we are children of God. This is Paul's whole point! Nothing compares to being a son or daughter of the Lord. He loves us so much. Nothing can quite match up to the glory we have in abundance living inside of us. Not persecution, not trouble and not hardship. They shouldn't even be a comparison to knowing Jesus. As God's children we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us to confirm this truth to us over and over.

Today, it is my prayer that you gain an eternal perspective in life. May you understand that your present situation is temporary. Whatever comes your way, I pray that you weigh it against the amazing gift of knowing God and being called a son or daughter of the most high king. Amen.

Previous: Romans 8:17  Next: Romans 8:19

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory"(Romans 8:17)

Through faith we were born into God's family. He has given us a new name, a new spirit and a new future to testify to this very fact. We are heirs of God and co-heir with Christ Jesus. God has withheld nothing from us. Ephesians says, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" ( Ephesians 1:4-5 ). All of this eternal blessing grew out of His love for us. Before Christ we were helpless and hopeless without God, but through the blood of Christ we have been brought near and included in the covenant of promise ( Ephesians 2:12-13 ).

This is an amazing thing. Understanding this truth will change your entire perspective in life. But with revelation and heart change comes resistance on behalf of the world. Paul said in today's passage that "...we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" ( Romans 8:17 ). He is talking about persecution. Paul knew from experience that sharing the gospel and seeing lives changed ignited opposition to it. He bore marks on his body over and over giving evidence to this very fact. He is saying that sometimes we will suffer ridicule, slander and pain on the account of Christ from unbelievers but this can't deter us from walking in the glory reveled to us through Christ Jesus.

Jesus said something similar, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." ( John 15:18-19 ). Jesus suffered persecution at the hands of mankind as well. This happened not only because he was different but because it was evident that he spoke on behalf of God. He was the light of the world and the darkness could not comprehend it so they tried to destroy it.

Throughout the scriptures we are warned about this. John said, "Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you" ( I John 3:13 ). James said, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds..." ( James 1:2 ). Peter said, "...do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you..." ( I Peter 4:13 ). And lastly Paul said, "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered" ( Romans 8:36 ). These men knew suffering at the hands of the world and yet each one of them said and demonstrated that knowing Jesus and His power outweighed anything that the world threw their way.

That is an encouraging word for today. Even if the world hates you on the account of Christ, who cares. The glory that we are apart of overshadows persecution and trials in every way. Paul was so convinced of this fact that He went on to say, "...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" ( Romans 8:37 ). He was beat, publicly humiliated, flogged and stoned near death and yet none of these thing deterred him. He gave up everything for the pursuit of Christ Jesus and the gospel. That was his driving force, nothing else mattered. His mission statement clear and focused..."I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith" ( Romans 1:16-17 ).

Sharing in Christ's suffering at the hands of unbelievers means that you are counted among his dear children. Peter said, "if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name" ( I Peter 4: 16 ). And that is exactly what Paul is saying in today's passage, we will share in suffering at the hands of the world because we are God's children and co-heirs with Christ. Now rejoice because this is temporary compared to the surpassing glory that will be revealed in us. Paul was a great example of faith in action. He knew God and he understood the coming glory that will be revealed in us the further we walk with Christ. Paul said, "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith" ( Philippians 3:7-9 ). This is our goal. Not caring what the world says, not caring what the world does, but considering their foolishness completely lost to us that we may know Christ and understand the righteousness we have as his children.

Today, I am blessed to be called a daughter, a sister, a friend and wife of my beloved Lord. He has used all of these descriptive relationships to state that I am everything to him. He says the same about you! He loves you so much. May his love permeate your entire spirit, soul and body today. May renewing your mind to this amazing truth change your future. Amen.

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