Romans 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Romans 8 has always been one of my favorite chapters. But, as I read it this morning, I saw some things that I have never seen before. As I have been looking for and meditating on the theme of God being our Father, and how He \u201cparents\u201d as as His kids, I saw some interesting things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rom 8:15-16 says, \u201cYou received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God.\u201d So, here\u2019s the first declaration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Continuing on, Rom 8:17 gets really interesting. As sons of God, Paul says, we are heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with his son Jesus. But, in order for us to get our inheritance, he says, \u201cprovided you suffer with him.\u201d Let\u2019s define the inheritance that he is referring to here first, then we\u2019ll come back to the suffering piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rom 8:21 says even creation is waiting for this \u201cinheritance.\u201d
\u201cThe whole creation has been groaning together\u2026\u201d and not only the creation, but we ourselves\u2026 wait eagerly the redemption of our bodies.\u201d The inheritance he refers to is the new heavens and the new earth, when everything will be made new. (Rev 21:1-4) We will receive new bodies, free from the limitations and the pain and suffering in our current bodies, and the turmoil on the current earth. (1 Cor 15:50-57)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, there\u2019s something else. Rom 8:19 said, \u201cFor the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.\u201d Creation is waiting to see us in our glorified bodies! When we receive our glorified bodies, all of creation will also be renewed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A couple days ago I wrote a blog titled, \u201cGod\u2019s glory or my good.\u201d I was really challenged by the fact that too often I am more concerned about the \u201cgood\u201d God is going to do for me than the goal of bringing glory to God. Ultimately, our lives will bring glory to Him when we become that perfect reflection of him in our glorified bodies. (1 John 3:2) That is also the \u201cgood\u201d God is working toward (Rom 8:29)! God uses suffering and trials in this life, to shape us, and conform us to that image. But, my life will finally be fully glorifying to Him when I am changed into His likeness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, let\u2019s go back and finish the thought from Rom 8:17. The rest of Rom 8:17 and Rom 8:18 says this, \u201cIf you suffer with him, you will also be glorified with him. For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The chorus to the Hymn, \u201cIt will be worth it all\u201d came to mind as I wrote those words.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase. So, bravely run the race till we see Christ.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Rom 8:28-30 finishes this thought. \u201cAnd we know that ALL THINGS work together for good.. for those he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son\u2026 Those he called he justified. Those he justified, he also glorified! Those words are in the past tense. In God\u2019s mind it\u2019s already happened!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Declarations:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- \u201cI am a son of God. I can climb up into my Father\u2019s lap any time and petition Him as \u201cDaddy.\u201d (Rom 8:15) I know this because His Spirit lives in me! (Rom 8:16) And if He did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for me, how will he not also graciously give me what I need. (Rom 8:32)\u201d<\/li>
- I have been chosen! (Eph 1:4) God chose me! I have been justified (Rom 5:1), I am declared righteous. I am glorified! In Christ I am seated at God\u2019s right hand, glorified with the image of Christ. (Col 3:1-4)<\/li>
- Whatever I face today in the name of Christ is worth it! (Rom 8:19)<\/li>
- I can rest, knowing that my daddy is in control of my circumstances today. I don\u2019t need to know what He is doing, I just need to know Him. (Phil 3:8-10)<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bible Reading Romans 8 Devotional Thoughts Romans 8 has always been one of my favorite chapters. But, as I read it this morning, I saw some things that I have never seen before. As I have been looking for and meditating on the theme of God being our Father, and how He \u201cparents\u201d as as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[130596],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1200","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-declarations-of-truth","7":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/172"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1200\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}