More Like jesus (part 5)

09/24/12 More Like Jesus (part 5) God is for you! That is what the Bible declares in Rom.8:31. Most of us have no problem believing God is for us as long as things are at least comfortable. But when our world seems to be falling apart we often question if God even cares. Rest assured that no matter what you are going through or how hard life may seem, if you are His child, God is working in your life to accomplish His goal of conforming you into the image of His Son. Rom.8:30 gives us four words that are like unshakable pillars that you can rest on while the rest of the world seems to be shaking apart. These words are predestined, called, justified, and glorified. And all of them are in the past tense. These words tell us what God has already done. ‘Predestined’ means to set boundaries or limits on someone so that they arrive at a predetermined place. Eph.1:5 says that God has predestined us to adoption as His sons and it is according to His good pleasure. ‘Sons’ is not necessarily males in this case. (A similar word is ‘brethren’ which includes brothers and sisters.) It means that as God’s own you (male and female) are given the glorious rights and privileges that belong to those who have God as their heavenly Father. And God does this wonderful thing for you because he enjoys doing so; it brings Him ‘good pleasure.’ These boundaries or limits that God places on you include every detail of your life, including the difficulties that you may be facing. While God has no part in any unholy or sinful action He will still use even that to accomplish His glorious will in your life. Someone said that though you may be in the furnace God’s hand is on the thermostat. None of us like trials but they are part of living in a fallen world. But rest assured my dear brother and sister, that since God is for you, even though there are many who are against you, God’s purpose for your life will succeed. His boundaries and limits that surround you were set in place before the world was even created. And because God is God nothing can prevent or pervert His will. One day you will stand in His presence and thank Him for the very thing you are struggling with now. (Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will look at the rest of Rom.8:30.) Prayer: Today, I bow before you in awe. You have me in the palm of your hand. I have no need to be anxious or worry. I rest in what You have already done. You have already accomplished your goal for me and in me. Help me to live faithfully so that you are glorified.