The Love of God 5 – Secure

The aim of this devotional is to reflect on the temporal and eternal security we find in the love God has for us.

Scripture

Romans 8:28-39

31  What then shall we say 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 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. 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.

Observations

Context: During Nero’s reign (when this letter was written), Emperor veneration was again instilled.  Christians refused to worship him, and because of their in growth numbers and influence the church posed a threat to the Romans Empire.  Paul is writing to the Roman church in the midst of mounting persecution, reassuring them of the eternal love of God even as they are about to suffer for a short while. 

1. What is the main theme of this Text? [hint: verse 35a]
2. Considering the context, what “charge against God’s elect” is Paul referring to? [verse 33]
3. Frequently the phrases “if God is for us who can be against us” and “in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us” are used to assure believers that God is bigger than our crisis, and that the hardship will soon be over.
   1. Reading the Text again, what does this Text teach us about God and hardship?
   2. To what does the phrase “all these things” (verse 37) refer? [hint: read the previous two verses]
   3. If Paul wrote “over all these thing we are more than conquerors…” what would that mean?
   4. Paul wrote “in all these things we are more than conquerors…” – what does that mean?
   5. How are we “more than conquerors?” [hint: read the following two verses]
4. Why could Paul comfort the church that even in death they are conquerors “through Christ Jesus”? [verse 34]
   1. In this Text, what is Jesus pictured as doing?
5. In summary, what comforting assurance does Paul give the persecuted church in Rome?

Personal reflection and prayer

1. Considering this Text, what would you say to a friend who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and feels that God has deserted her?
2. What is the best thing to pray for Christians suffering persecution?
3. Are you going through hardship? Reflect prayerfully on verses 38-39 and pray that you may know this love of God!
4. Do you have a friend going through hardship? Pray that they may know this security in the love of God, and encourage them today!

The Love of God 3 – demonstrative

The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on the security and demonstrative nature of God’s unconditional love.

Scripture

Romans 5:6-10

6  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person–though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die– 8  but God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Observation and reflection

Note: “Justified” is a legal term by which one is declared to be faultless or innocent of the charges brought against one (in other words innocent, sinless or righteous).  “Reconciled” means to bring together peaceably, implying that the reason for separation and animosity has been dealt with.
 

1. What do you understand under the phrase “while we were still weak”? (verse 6)
   1. How does that make the substitutionary death of Christ so much more glorious?
   2. In which ways were you “weak” or helpless before God the Judge when you realized you need God’s grace?
2. Most mothers would gladly jump in front of a bullet or lion to save their baby. For whom would you gladly be a substitute for torture and death? (verse 7-8)
   1. What typically are the nature of these relationships for whom one wood die? Why would one substitute your life for another?  What does that say of the other person?
   2. What does Christ’s substitutionary death say of you? (Or rather, God’s estimation of you?)
   3. What then does Christ’s substitutionary death say of God’s loving kindness?
3. How are we “justified by [Christ’s] blood”? (verse 9)
   1. Why would Paul argue that “[then] much more shall we be saved… from the wrath of God”? [hint: see verse 10, but say it in your own words]

Personal reflection and Prayer

God demonstrated his love for us that he ensured our life and reconciliation with him by asking his Son to take the punishment of our sins on himself – even before we sought relationship and grace from Him.  How much more now that we’ve been adopted as His children does Christ’s act of love secure our righteousness before God our Father!

1. Extended periods of hardships can sometimes make people cry out “has God forgotten or rejected me!?” When have you ever felt this way?
   1. Considering today’s devotional reading (above), what would you answer yourself if you feel that way again?
2. Sadly, our struggle with sinful habits does not end the day we are born again. These habitual sins lead to patterns of guilt and shame that can easily convince us God has grown tired and has given up on us.  When have you felt this way?
   1. Considering today’s devotional reading (above), what would you answer yourself if you feel that way again?
3. Thank God his GREAT LOVE THAT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED in the death of Christ his son!
4. Who do you know doubts God’s love because of hardships of habitual sins? Meet them for coffee to remind them of God’s tremendous love!

Discipline of Rest 4 – Secure in Gods hands

The aim of this devotional study is to consider what type of rest the souls needs.

Scripture

Genesis 1:26-31, 2:1-3

26  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28  And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29  And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30  And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.  31  And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

2:1  Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2:2  And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 2:3  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Observation and reflection

1. When did God make the first people? And what did He do after that?
2. Concerning the day of rest from this Text:
   1. How long did Adam and Eve live before God pronounced a day of rest?
   2. How much work had they done before God pronounced a day of rest?
   3. Do you suppose Adam and Eve needed physical rest?
   4. What type of rest did they experience that day? [take your time on this one]
3. As Adam and Eve walked around on that first day of rest, what could they observe about God and his work?

Personal reflection and Prayer

After creation God appointed man as governor and keeper of the earth, but the first thing man had to do was rest.  Here we have Adam and Eve created in perfection – no sin, no ageing, no sickness, no tiredness (they have not even lived a full day!) and they had to observe a resting day!  What “rest” did they need to observe?  A rest of reflection that takes off the pressure of responsibility: God is in control, so it does not all depend on me.

Psalm 46:10 “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

1. What makes God, God? What sets God aside from mankind and everything else? [hint: time, space, origin, ability, knowledge, change, etc]
2. Look outside the window to something beautiful that God had created and still maintains (or to this inserted picture)
   1. What do creation communicate about God’s ability?
   2. What do creation communicate about God’s character?
3. Consider your greatest responsibilities or challenges.
   1. What are you responsible for?
   2. What can you not do?
   3. What can God not do?
   4. What will God not do for you? [hint: Romans 8:32]
4. Praise God for his power and goodness. Then “cast all your cares on the Lord, for he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7)