Storm-tossed but Safe - Isaiah 54 part 3

"O afflicted one, storm tossed, and not comforted,

behold, I will set your stones in antimony,

and your foundations I will lay in sapphires.

Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies,

and your gates of crystal,

and your entire wall of precious stones.

And all your sons will be taught of the LORD;

and the well-being of your sons will be great.

In righteousness you will be established;

you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear;

and from terror, for it will not come near you.

If anyone fiercly assails you it will not be from Me.

Whoever assails you will fall because of you.

Behold, I Myself have created the smith

who blows the fire of coals,

and brings out a weapon for its work;

and I have created the destroyer to ruin.

No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;

and every tongue that accuses you in judgment

you will condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD.

And their vindication is from Me,"

declares the LORD.

(vs 11-17)

Isaiah paints a very descriptive word picture in verse 11. He speaks of the afflicted church and refers to her as "storm-tossed, and not comforted." There are times when we feel like "a ship ready to be swallowed up by the waves." Surely nothing can save us. Surely we are doomed. Surely we will perish. The storm surge is big. Our faith is small. We are distressed. We are disconsolate. We find comfort in nothing. These are sinking times.

Yet, clearly God sees our despairing condition. Clearly He sees it by the very fact that He refers to us as afflicted ones, storm-tossed and not comforted. Our desperate plight has not escaped His notice. He sees us. He knows us. He helps us. Notice the wonderful, hope filled promises that He affords to His sinking children:

"Behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and your foundations I will lay in sapphires. Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies, and your gates of crystal, and your entire wall of precious stones."

Here are "very precious promises that God would not only continue His love to His people under their troubles, but that He would raise them to greater prosperity than any they had yet enjoyed." Look at their apparent, outward condition at the beginning of chapter 54. They are barren, desolate, humiliated, seemingly forsaken. Things are not going wonderfully well for them. The church is in a distressed state yet God declares that this distressed state is the doorway for them to enter into a glorified state. In the same sense that Isaiah 53 is the portrait of the humiliation of Christ which led to the exaltation of Christ, so is Isaiah 54 the portrait of the humiliation of His bride which will lead to her exaltation. When we are afflicted and storm-tossed, when comfort is beyond our ability to comprehend we need to turn to these verses and hear our Maker, Husband, Redeemer, and Holy God speaking to us. Our condition may seem beyond help. Our walls may seem to have been decimated. But perception is not reality, God's promise is reality! She looks and feels pitiful in her current condition but beauty and strength and honor are on the way.

The body of Christ is compared to a city, for that is what she is - the living city of the living God. "Whereas now Jerusalem lay in ruins, a heap of rubbish, it shall be beautified and appear more splendid than ever; the stones shall be laid not only firm, but fine. The foundations shall be garnished with sapphires, for Christ and the foundation of the prophets, are precious above anything else. The window of this house, city, or temple, shall be made of agates, the gates of carbuncles, and all the borders of pleasant stones." God is builiding His church and the Master architect's design is glorious! O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted will you look not to the crashing waves but to the conquering Christ? Peter sank when his eyes were not on his Savior. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of your faith!

God makes promises regarding the "building" of His church. He also makes promises regarding the seed of His church. And all your sons will be taught of the LORD; and the well-being of your sons will be great. Covenant promises are precious promises. Our children are not left out to fend for themselves. As part of the covenant community they are to be taught; and as, by God's grace we faithfully teach them their well-being will be great. So, train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it (Pr 22:6). Let the words which God has commanded us be on our hearts and let us teach them diligently to our sons and let us talk of them when we sit in our houses and who we walk by the way and when we lie down and when we rise up. Let us bind them as a sign on our hands and they shall be as frontals on our foreheads. And let us write them on the doorposts of our houses and on our gates! (Dt 6:5-9)

God gives promises of beauty from the ashes. He gives promises of great seed from barrenness. And He gives promises of security from the tempest. He says He will establish His church. "In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you." Above all else, this is the safety and security, beauty and glorious dress of the church - Christ's righteousness. It is Christ's righteousness alone that can and will establish us and drop anchor in the midst of storm-tossed seas.

Matthew Henry writes, "Though now she lay in danger, God promises her protection and security. Though attempts should be made upon them, none of them shall succeed. As long as there is a devil in hell and a persecutor out of it, God's people may expect frequent alarms. But their attempts will end in ruin! We may with great assurance depend on God for the safety of His church." The gates of hell will not prevail against it!

The Sovereign, Omnipotent, King of Kings is our Maker, Defender, Father, Husband and Friend. "If God is for us, who shall be against us?" He reminds us of His sovereignty and of His divine providence in all of history when He declares, "Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, and brings out a weapon for its work; and I have created the destroyer to ruin."

Beloved, no trial comes our way apart from God's design. Job's did not. Joseph's did not. Peter's did not. Lori's has not. God has brought the storm and will still it at the exact moment that it must be stilled - not a moment too soon and not a moment too late. God has allowed the sifting to assail us. "God has created the smith and therefore can tie his hands, so that the product of the enemy can miscarry. They think their own ingenuity, labor and experience made them soldiers; but it was God that created them andn He will serve His own purposes and designs through them." Do we realize just how safe and secure we are? God's sovereignty rules over all! It rules your storm - both its starting and its stopping.

Precious saint, "no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgement you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD. And their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD. There are no weapons strong enough to match omnipotence. There are no weapons numerous enough to overcome omnipresence. There are no weapons secret enough to outwit omniscience. There are no weapons evil enough to undo holiness. We are safe and secure in Christ!

And when the weapons fail and the accusing tongues arise remember the promises of Romans 8: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Here is the heritage of the servants of the LORD. Our vindication is from Him. Trust oh, storm-tossed one. He will calm the sea!

In His glorious grace,

Lori

Swearing to Noah and to Me - Isaiah 54 part 2

"For this is like the days of Noah to Me;

When i swore that the waters of Noah

should not flood the earth again,

so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,

nor will I rebuke you.

For the mountains may be removed

and the hills may shake,

but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,

and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,"

says the LORD who has compassion on you.

(vs 9-10)

I have found a LOT of comfort in the covenant of grace these past couple of months. Barren times can be blind times. It can be hard for us to see that which is true. Thankfully, the reality and the everlasting nature of Christ's covenant with me is not based on my seeing the sign, but on His. God's vision is NEVER blurred. The darkness is as light to Him. He is always better than 20/20!

I thought it was interesting that, in the midst of Isaiah 54's discourse on the humiliation and exaltation of Zion, Noah comes up. Noah has been my good friend in my personal barren land. I've been encouraged and rebuked by his faithfulness to his God in the midst of the darkest of days. I've been reminded of the loneliness and isolation that he and his family faced due to their righteousness. I've been challenged to flee to the ark of Christ for safety in my own storm just as they fled to the ark of gopher wood for safety in theirs. Particularly, I have been granted peace from the words of Genesis 9 and the covenant of the rainbow. The flood has subsided. Noah and the animals have left the ark. One stage of the trial is over. The first thing built in the new world is an altar upon which to worship God. The call to "be fruitful and multiply" has gone out. Then God says:

"Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you..... And I establish My covenant with you, and all flesh shall never be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth." And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between ME and the earth. And it shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all felsh that is on the earth."

What has profoundly impacted me these past few months is the realization that the covenant sign of the rainbow isn't so much for us to see as it is for God to see. Sure, it has great benefit for us as a reminder of God's promise, but the text says "When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant." I know that sometimes in my dark days I lose the ability to see things as they are. Great doubts creep in. The covenant water of baptism have dried up - I can't see it. I can't feel it. I can't tell that it was ever there. BUT God can! In the same sense that the rainbow is placed there for God to look upon so has the sign of the covenant been placed on me to be viewed by my covenant keeping God. Even when I can't see that I am marked out, He can! Phillip reminded me recently that from the sky a rainbow is a complete circle, much like a wedding band. Our great Husband has the perfect view to see the sign of His marriage to His people.

I suppose the sweetness of that thought has made the reference to Noah in this chapter even more precious to me. Here are God's people feeling and looking barren, desolate, humiliated, and forsaken. But God reminds them of the steadfastness of His promises. Just as He swore to Noah, so He has sworn to His church. Remember verse 7-8: "For a brief moment i forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you." This promise is just as sure as His promise to Noah!

Our covenanting God goes on to say: "For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindnes will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken," says the LORD who has compassion on you. Matthew Henry writes, "Mountains have sometimes been shaken by earthquakes and removed, but the promises of God were never broken by the shock of any event. When our friends fail us our God does not, nor does His kingdom depart. Whom God loves, He loves to the end. The covenant is immovable and inviolable, because it is built not on our merit, but on God's mercy, which is from everlasting to everlasting."

Oh Christian, does not your heart rejoice that it is HIS everlasting covenant to you and that is based on HIS merit and mercy? He sees the sign disconsolate one. Trust His vision and not your own!

Trusting,

Lori

Back on Track - Barren No More- Isaiah 54

"Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child;

Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud.

you who have not travailed;

for the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous

than the sons of the married woman," says the LORD.

Enlarge the place of your tent;

stretch out the curtians of your dwellings, spare not;

lengthen your cords,

and strengthen your pegs.

For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left.

And your descendants will possess nations,

and they will resettle the desolate cities.

"Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;

neither feel humiliated,

for you will not be disgraced;

but you will forget the shame of your youth,

and the reproach of your widowhood

you will remember no more.

For yourHusband is your Maker,

whose name is the LORD of hosts;

and your Redeemer is the Holy One of israel,

who is called the God of all the earth.

For the LORD has called you,

like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,

even like a wife of one's youth when she is rejected,"

says your God.

"For a brief moment I forsook you,

but with great compassion I will gather you.

In an outburst of anger I hid my face from you for a moment;

but with everlasting lovingkindness

I will have compassion on you,"

says the LORD your Redeemer."

(vs 1-8)

It's been a hard couple of months. I finished up Isaiah 53 - looking at Christ the suffering Servant and I sort of "tanked" for a period. God is in the midst of some house-cleaning with me. After working my way through Matthew 4 - due to the devil's own schemes against me and then through Romans 6-8 - due to my personal need to flee to Christ in the midst of my trial, I now find myself back on track and picking up with the next chapter of Isaiah. Chapter 54. It's actually quite providential.

Isaiah 53 shows us the humiliated Christ. Isaiah 54 shows us the humiliated body of Christ - His people, His church. The humiliated bride. That's been me and still is to a lesser degree.Clearly, He's not yet finished with the refining process where I'm concerned. With the sure knowledge of that, Isaiah 54 begins with these words:

"Shout for joy, O barren one." I have definitely been somewhat barren recently - in the spiritual sense yet God has been pleased to lift up my head and in agreement with the prophet's words I do shout for joy in this dry and thirsty land. Why? How can we 'break forth in joyful shouting and cry aloud" when things are just so stinking hard? I think the remainder of Isaiah 54 answers that for us.

Why do we shout for joy? How can we shout for joy? Because of the promises of God to His people. I have found so much comfort in God's covenant these past few weeks. Often I can NOT see any semblance of the mark of the covenant on my life. The baptismal waters have dried up from my point of view - but not from God's! He has made promises to His people and He is faithful to keep His promises. It is impossible for Him to lie!

Several of those precious promises are recorded in these verses. First, God promises that "the desolate one will be more numerous." God restores the days, the weeks, the months, the years, the decades that the locust eat. For the covenant child even that which appears to be desolate comes with great purpose. God at times has to burn the field in order to make it more productive. God has saved us, by grace through faith, to be His workmanship. We "were created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10). He will do what is necessary to make us fruitful for His glory and His kingdom's good. Do you feel desolate this day? Trust Him to work what He must to make you numerous.

Second, God promises to "enlarge the place of your tent. stretch out the curtains of your dwelling...; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your pegs." This is a promise to His church, which we as individuals are a part of. God is about the work of expanding His holy empire. It shall increase. It shall grow. The gospel will penetrate and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. As we pray that God would send His Spirit in reviving power, must we not expect that He would begin the work in the hearts of His people. Do you long to see society transformed by the renewing, redeeming, reforming power of Christ? I know I do. I've begged Him to pour out His reviving blessings for the past 10 years. I pray that even this current barren place is a step in that direction in my own life. He has promised to spread His church abroad to the right and to the left. He has promised to take His people's descendants, the covenant seed, and have them posess the nations, and resettle desolate cities. In the midst of seeming ecclesiastical barrenness, do we trust His expanding promise?

Third, God promises that His people will not be disgraced therefore we are not to fear! "Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; neither feel humiliated for you will not be disgraced." Here is Israel, God's chosen people, barren, small, desolate, ashamed, and outwardly humiliated. However, outward appearances can be deceiving - very deceiving. Sometimes the very thing that is so humiliating is the exact thing that God in His ever perfect economy is using to life up our head to higher heights! Pruning produces greater fruit. Refining produces purer gold. Do we trust God with our current fires? Do we trust Him with the scalpel that He is using on our souls? We should trust Him because He is our Maker, our Husband, our Redeemer, and the Holy One of Israel. Will not He who loves us most assuredly do what is right and best for us?

Matthew Henry writes, "Fear not because of your relation to God. Jesus is the church's Maker, Husband and Redeemer. He formed her into a people. He brought her out of captivity to the bondage of sin. He called her His beloved."

He is our God, we are His people. He has made an everlasting covenant with us and He will do what He has promised. David writes, "In Thee our fathers trusted; they trusted, and Thou didst deliver them. To Thee they cried out, and were delivered; in Thee they trusted and were not disappointed" (Ps 22). Only a few chapters back Isaiah wrote, "For the LORD God helps me, therefore I am not disgraced; therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He who vindicates me is near; who will contend with me? Let us stand up to each other; who has a case against me? Let him draw near to me. Behold the LORD God helps me; who is he who condemns me?" Oh, how that echos the words of Paul in his letter to the Romans Christians: "What shall we say say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delieverd Him up for us all, how will He not freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yet, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us?"

Dear believer, we will not be ashamed. God will not cast us down. No, "in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, i will sing praises to the LORD." (Ps 27:5-6). Trust Him to lift you up in due time, O humiliated one!

Finally, in these first 8 verses, Isaiah points out the flat out honest reality of how things "feel" to the people of God at the moment. They "feel" forsaken and in a "feeling" sense they have been. There are times when God, in His infinite wisdom, withdraws the light of His countenance for a season. The Westminster Confession, in its chapter on Assurance of Grace and Salvation, says this:

"True believers may have the assurance of their salvation in divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the light of His countenance, and suffering even such as fear Him to walk in darkness and to have no light; yet are they never utterly destitue of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ, and the brethren, that sincerity of heart, and conscience of duty, out of which by the operation of the Spirit,this assurance may, in due time, be revived; and be the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair."

We see that playing out before our eyes here in Isaiah 54. "For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In an outburst of anger I hid my face from you for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer. "Even those that are epsoused to God may yet seem to be forsaken."

Oftentimes when God is pleased to leave us in a difficult situation we tend to view Him as asleep or unconcerned. We assume that He has bailed on us, if He was ever truly there at all. God is NOT like us. He is NOT like those who have turned their backs on us. He is NOT like those who have said one thing and meant another. "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Num 23:19). "For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake his inheritance" (Ps 94:14). "For my father and mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me up" (Ps 27:10).

Here Isaiah reminds us that though God, for a brief moment, may have to deal with us in righteous anger and in Fatherly discipline He will ALWAYS do so with "great compassion." Just "as He is slow to anger, so He is swift to show mercy."

What are you facing right now? Are you barren? Desolate? Humiliated? Look not to your circumstances. Look not to your own heart's assessment of your circumstances. Look to your Husband, your Maker, your Redeemer. The compassionate Carver of every path that we find ourselves on. In the light of eternity, this is but a "brief moment". It is but a vapor and a disintigrating mist. But His lovingkindness is everlasting and He will have compassion on you, His beloved.

Thankful for the brevity, yearning for the eternal,
Lori

Overwhelming Conquerors - Romans 8:35-39

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)

The precious privileges just keep coming in this chapter - no condemnation, life, adoption, inheritance, glorification, the intercession of the Spirit, all things working together for our good, conformity to the image of Christ, a God who is for us, a sure supply of all our needs, “an answer for all accusations”, “a security for all condemnations” and here at the end “we have good assurance of our preservation and continuance in this blessed state to the very end.”

Matthew Henry writes, “The fears of the saints lest they should lose their hold of Christ are often very discouraging and disquieting, but here is that which may silence their fears, that nothing can separate them.”

Verse 35 begins with a daring, rhetorical question. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? The clear and certain answer is a resounding “No one!” Look back to verse 31-34. “What shall we say then? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yet, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” These are the things that lead up to verse 35. God is for us! He is so very much for us that He gave His Son as a propitiation for our sins. The just Judge paid the price Himself. God the Father will not mock the blood of God the Son by casting aside that which Has cost Him so much.

What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? In this life we face trouble, there’s no denying it or getting around it. Christ Himself says, “In the world you have tribulation.” Thankfully He goes on to say, “but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Paul writes, “And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” James tells us to “consider it all joy, my brethren, WHEN you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” There’s no “if” to suffering in this fallen world. It is certain and sure. To go a step further it is even necessary. “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if NECESSARY, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Trials don’t separate us from the love of God – no, they knit us more closely to Him!

All of these horrible “black and dismal” maladies can never rip us out of God’s love and Fatherly care. In His economy all of our trials have purpose . Look back to dear old Isaiah, “O LORD, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will give thanks to Thy name; for Thou has worked wonders, plans formed long ago with perfect faithfulness.” (Is 25:1). The all-wise and sovereign God has formed our paths and He has formed them with perfect faithfulness. He did that with Joseph. Much tribulation fell upon him. Many trials accompanied his days. Multitudes of persecution hounded him. Yet, He knew that they did not separate him from the love of God. No, his sufferings had a loving and divine purpose – for God’s glory and for Joseph’s good – in God’s economy. The sure knowledge of that allowed Joseph to say to his brothers “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

God has not, God will not, God can not abandon you in your sufferings. He loves you no less for all that He has carved for you and His true adopted child will love Him nonetheless for frowning providence either. “A true Christian loves Christ never the less though he suffer for Him, thinks never the worse of Christ, though he lose all for Him.”

No, He loves us in our trials and He has His good reasons for them. As James reminds us, they are for the purpose of maturing us “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Romans 8:28 has just reminded us that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”And here in the very text before me this morning we are told that “in all these things we OVERWHELMINGLY conquer through Him who loved us.”

We are conquerors. No, we are MORE than conquerors. Through Christ, we OVERWHELMINGLY conquer! Think about it, in our trials and tribulations, persecutions and perils, what can man do to us? What can we lose? Mr. Henry writes, “Many conquests are dearly bought; but what do the suffering saints lose? Why, they lose that which the gold loses in the furnace, nothing but the dross.” Even if our enemies go to the greatest degree and take our lives from us, what have we lost. Nothing! No, even in that we overwhelmingly conquer for “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” In even the worst tragedies of life there is NO loss and there is great gain! Quoting Henry again, “The spoils are exceedingly rich; glory, honor, and peace, a crown of righteousness that fades not away. In this the suffering saints have triumphed. As afflictions abound, consolations much more abound (2 Cor 1:5). Those that have gone smiling to the stake, and stood singing in the flames – these were more than conquerors.”

Lest we get proud and haughty in this glorious promise we are reminded that these things are not ours because of us. They are ours through Christ! We are conquerors not in our own strength but in His. We win because he won! It is all of His free flowing grace. It is all of His tenacious love. It is all of the upholding of His righteous right hand. I have nothing to do with it, it is all of Him and in Him alone may I boast. “We are conquerors by virtue of Christ’s victory. We have nothing to do but to pursue the victory, and to divide the spoil.”

After this grand declaration Paul flows into a great anthem of certainty regarding the thing promised. Here is a song of triumph and adoration. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life ,nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created things, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul is persuaded. “And here he enumerates all those things which might separate between Christ and believers and concludes that it could not be done. 1) Neither death nor life, neither the fear of death nor the hope of life. We shall not be separated from that love either in death or in life. 2) Nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers. The good angels will not, the bad shall not; and neither can. The good angels are engaged friends, the bad are restrained enemies. 3) Nor things present, nor things to come – neither the sense of troubles present nor the fear of troubles to come. Time shall not separate us, eternity shall not, from the love of Christ, whose favor is twisted in with both present things and things to come. 4) Nor height, nor depth – neither the height of prosperity, nor the depth of adversity, nothing from heaven above, nothing on earth below. 5) Nor any other creature – anything that can be named or thought of. It will not, it cannot, separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Matthew Henry)

“Nothing does it, can do it, but sin” and sin has been paid for by Christ. If Christ, then no condemnation. If Christ, then life. If Christ, then adoption. If Christ, then eternal inheritance. If Christ, then glorification. If Christ, then intercession on our behalf. If Christ, then all things are working for my good. If Christ, then security. If Christ, then provision. If Christ, then inseparable love. I suppose the question is – are we “in Christ”? Is there any other place to be?

Thankful to be in Him,
Lori

Our Advocate - Romans 8:33-34

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39)

In verse 31 we see that we have an omnipotent God who is for us. Therefore, what or who can truly be against us? In verse 32 we see that there is a free flowing fountain of never ceasing grace available for the blood bought child of God. Who can cut off the stream? This morning in verse 33-34 we will see that we “have an answer ready to all accusations and a security against all condemnations.”

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? Paul gives us answer enough – God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Paul gives further proof that the answer is a resounding “no one!” He writes, Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who is also interceding for us.

Listen to Mr. Henry this day: “If God justifies, this answers all. We may challenge all our accusers to come and put in their charge. This overthrows them all; it is God, the righteous faithful God, that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? Though they cannot make good the charge, yet they will be ready to condemn; but we have a plea ready which cannot be overruled. It is Christ that died, &c. It is by Christ, and our union with Him, that we are thus secured.”

The accuser of the brethren comes. What is the answer to these false and damning charges? It is this – Christ died for me! Christ rose for me! Christ intercedes for me! Take it up with Him!! He will answer you! His own works will answer you! By His death He paid my debt – account cleared – paid in full! By His resurrection He proved that the surety is true and that it stands. Christ has crushed the serpent’s head. Henry says, “If He had died, and not risen again, we had been where we were.” Oh, but we are NOT where we were because Christ is not where He was laid!

He died, He rose again. And in His resurrected state He is sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty! What an encouragement to us in the midst of all the condemning fiery darts and wicked schemes that the enemy hurls our way. Christ Jesus, the One who paid the debt, the One who conquered death is at the right hand of the Judge of all the earth. We have a Friend, an Ally, an older Brother, an Advocate in the courtroom! “Our Friend Himself, is the Judge!” (Henry)

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend! He loved me ere I knew him;
He drew me with the cords of love, and thus He bound me to Him;
and round my heart still closely twine those ties which naught can server,
for I am His and He is mine, forever and forever.

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend! He bled, He died to save me;
and not alone the gift of life, but His own self He gave me!
Naught that I have mine own I’ll call, I’ll hold it for the Giver,
my heart, my strength, my life, my all are His, and His forever.

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend! All pow’r to Him is given,
to guard me on my onward course, and bring me safe to heaven:
eternal glory gleams afar, to nerve my faint endeavor:
so now to watch, to work, to war; and then to rest forever.

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend! So kind and true and tender,
so wise a Counselor and guide, so mighty a defender!
From Him who loves me now so well what pow’r my soul can sever?
Shall life or death, shall earth or hell? No! I am His forever.

(James G. Small, 1866)

Would not these three things be more than enough? Should not these three things set our mind at absolute ease? But, Oh my soul rejoice, it does not end there! It gets even better!! He died, He rose, He sits at God’s right hand as our Advocate in the courtroom, and He intercedes for us. “Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

Turning again to Henry, “He is there, not unconcerned about us, not forgetful of us, but making intercession for us. And is this not abundant matter for comfort? What room is left for doubting and disquietment?” There is no room left!

Oh Christ – I WAS guilty. You have died for me. You have paid the price fully. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. You have taken my sin. You have given me Your righteousness. You have died, but hallelujah You have risen from the dead. The grave could not hold you. The enemy could not conquer you. The strife is over and the battle won! You sit at the right hand of God that I might not fear the Judge. You have made Him my friend, yea – You have made Him my Father! Your sacrifice is evident by Your wounds and as You sit at the bar the enemy has NOTHING to say to me, for Your works have said it all. Your blood has paid it all! What more is needed? Nothing, yet more is given. You pray for me! You are praying for me! Me – who is so weak in praying for myself! Help us all to stand against the fiery darts this day and may we plead Your blood and righteousness which alone are our beauty and our glorious dress.

I know that my Redeemer lives, and ever prays for me;
a token of His love He gives, a pledge of liberty.
I find Him lifting up my head; He brings salvation near;
His presence makes me free indeed and He will soon appear.
He wills that I should holy be; who can withstand His will?
The counsel of His grace in me He surely shall fulfill.
Jesus, I hang upon Your Word; I steadfastly believe
You will return and claim me, Lord, and to yourself receive.

(Charles Wesley, 1742)

Freely Given All Things - Romans 8:32

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39)

God is for us. Who can be against us? God is for us continually. His lovingkindnesses never cease. His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. This fountain of never ceasing grace is the saint’s exhaustless theme. Romans 8:32 reminds us that “we have supplies ready in all of our wants.” This river won’t run dry. Trust that fact. Why? Because “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

God loved us enough to give His Son for us. His Beloved Son with whom He was well-pleased (Mt 3:17, 12:18, 17:15; Mk 1:11; Ep 1:6; Col 1:13; He 5:5; 2 Pe 1:17). “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

“How great the Father’s love for us! How vast beyond all measure! That He should
give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure!” (Stuart Townsend).

Nothing less would save us, therefore God gave nothing less than His sinless Son. He became the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. “Thus did He deliver Him up for us all, not only for our good, but in our stead, to be a propitiation for sin” (Henry). “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 Jn 4:9-10).

If He did this great thing – this greatest of things - this most costly of things – will He not surely give us all other things necessary for our life and godliness? “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Ps 84:11). “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Ph 4:19). “To those who fear Him, there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.” (Ps 34:9-10)

Matthew Henry writes, “It is implied that He will give us Christ, for other things are bestowed with Him. He will with Him freely give us all things, all good things, and more we should not desire. Freely, without reluctancy; and freely, without recompense. How shall He not? Can it be imagined that He should give so great a gift for us when we were enemies, and should deny us any good thing, now that we are friends and children? He that hath prepared a crown and kingdom for us will be sure to give us enough to bear our charges in the way to it.”

No good thing does He withhold from His children.

Trusting Him for all of my necessary provision,

Lori

For Us - Romans 8:31

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39)

Do you ever have days when, even though you know that "there is therefore now no condemnation in Christ", you still find yourself feeling “condemned”? How about days when, though you know that "nothing can separate you from the love of God" and "no one can snatch you out of His hand", that you still feel pulled and “separated” from God? Are you ever in “tribulation, distress and persecution”? Ever sensing that you are being “slaughtered” ? Sure you have, as have I. Yet in all of this, through Christ Jesus our Lord, we will "overwhelmingly conquer". Christians, the enemy cannot mortally wound us. We will not be forever crippled and unable to serve our King. Matthew Henry’s opening paragraph regarding this section is poignant.

“The apostle closes [chapter 8] with a holy triumph, in the name of all the saints. What shall we say to these things? What use shall we make of all that has been said? He speaks as one wondering at the height and depth, and length and breadth, of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. The more we know of other things the less we wonder at them; but the further we are led into an acquaintance with gospel mysteries the more we are affected with the admiration of them. If ever Paul rode in a triumphant chariot on this side of heaven, here it was. He here makes a challenge, dares all the enemies of the saints to do their worst: If God be for us, who can be against us? This includes all, that God is for us. All that He is, and has, and does, is for His people. And, if so, who can be against us, so as to prevail against us? Be they ever so strong, ever so many, what can they do? While God is for us, and we keep in His love, we may defy all the powers of darkness. Let Satan do his worst, he is chained. Who then dares fight against us, while God himself is fighting for us?”

What shall I say?
Lori

The Chain - Romans 8:29-30

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. " (Romans 8:29-30)

The “ordo salutis” – the order of salvation. These verses give us the golden chain of our redemption. Every link is crucial. Every link is precious and priceless. Every link is a necessary part of the whole. This is a golden chain which cannot be broken and O, how our hearts should well up in humble praise and ardent devotion to the God who has applied this strong and certain chain to our souls!

Four links are mentioned.

1. Predestination. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born of many brethren.”

Matthew Henry writes, “All that God designed for glory and happiness as the end He decreed to grace and holiness as the way.” God intended to glorify a people unto Himself and in order to accomplish that He formed this salvific chain, beginning with His own unconditional election. It begins with those whom He foreknew – those whom He sovereignly set His love and favor upon. He did this not because of any good thing that He saw in them – no, He saw only sin and depravity. He did this not because of any worth or value that was intrinsic to them – no, even our most righteous deeds are but filthy rags. The very verse points out that we are predestined TO holiness not because of holiness.

God did this predestinating work simply because of His own good pleasure and marvelous mercy. To think anything other than that is to hold onto pride and to strip God of His sovereign glory. I have nothing to boast in but my God and His regenerating work in me.“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.” Wow!

The purpose of our predestination is given in this first link of the chain. We are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. We are predestined in order to be sanctified and made more like our blessed Savior. Henry states that in this initial step “we have God’s love restored to us and God’s likeness renewed upon us.” Predestination gets the ball rolling. It marks us out. It etches the Christ-like seal that is to be stamped upon us. We can’t conform ourselves to Christ – God can, and God does by the formation of this first and glorious link.

Election is not some “get out of jail free pass.” Election is NEVER an excuse to live as you please. Election is ALWAYS an enabling to live as Christ – to live conformed to His image and removed from our own. “None can know their election but by their conformity to the image of Christ; for all that are chosen are chosen to sanctification.” If you think you are among the “elect” yet desire to live as you please, then think again – even in light of this verse. Predestination is for the purpose of conformity to Christ. There is no getting around it and even our conformity to Him is not for our own glory or for a pat on our back but for His. “…that He might be the first-born among many brethren.” The chief and highest end of all of this is the glory of Christ.

“It is that Christ might have the honor of being the great pattern and might have pre-eminence. And blessed be God that there are many brethren; though they seem but a few in one place at one time, yet, when they come all together, they will be a great many. In spite of all the opposition of the powers of darkness, Christ will be the first-born among many, very many brethren.” (Matthew Henry)

God has foreknown us to predestinate us and all for the purpose of conforming us more to the image of Christ that we might bring Him glory. There’s the first link in the glorious golden chain. Every link of this chain points to God as the author and the perfector of our faith. It is HE who has foreknown and HE who has predestined. We will see the same God-centered focus in verse 29. Folks, the ONLY thing we bring to our salvation is our sin. Praise God for His sovereign mercy and for His pursuing and persisting redeeming love!

Paul informs us that those whom God has predestined, those who in the wise and holy counsel of His will He has been pleased to look upon in foreknowing love, those He has also called. Not only called with the external call of the gospel – for that call goes forth to all the world. We are to proclaim to the nations the gospel of Christ – “Repent and believe. Call upon the name of the LORD and you will be saved, you and your household.” We are to carry that external call to the ends of the earth. God however, is in the business of making a much more personal call – acall that can be heard by the deaf, a call that can be seen by the blind, a call that can be responded to by the dead. It is an internal, regenerating call. It is a call that is of wed to the Spirit of God. “The former comes to the ear only, this to the heart.”

It is an effectual call. For in this call the Spirit of God comes to us and gives our eyes the ability to see – and who would reject this free gift when they are truly able to see it for what it is? He gives us ears to hear the glorious melody of the riches that can be ours in Christ – who would flee from so great a hymn when they are truly able to listen to it’s notes? He gives us life to respond to that which alone can free us from eternal death and condemnation, and once we’ve been given true life we will open the package that He has offered to us rather than flee back to the rotting sepulchre that was our abode. The internal and effectual call of the Spirit of Christ always accomplishes it’s purpose. He always gets His man, or woman, or child. Apart from that internal working none of us would answer, for we are unable. With that internal working none of us will refuse. O, it is all of Him and how worthy He is of praise for His gracious calling to His elect.

He foreknew, predestined, called, and those whom He has done these things for, He has also justified. The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines justification in this way:

“Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein He pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.”

That pretty much sums it up. Grace, pardon, righteous imputation. By grace alone! Through faith alone! In Christ alone! To God alone be the glory! “All that are effectually called are accepted as righteous through Jesus Christ. They are no longer dealt with as criminals, but owned and loved as friends and favorites” (Matthew Henry).

• “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
• Christ was “delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification” (Rom 4:25).
• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:23-24).
• “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5:1).
• “But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him” (Romans 5:8)
• “But do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of god? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:9-11).
• “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” ( Titus 3:5-7).
  

Christ through foreknowing, predestinating, calling, and justifying mercy save His people. And He doesn’t simply save us partially but fully. The work which He began he will carry on until the day of completion (Ph 1:6). “Those whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

Listen to Mr. Henry’s words on this. “The power of corruption being broken in effectual calling, and the guilt of sin being removed in justification, nothing can come between the soul and glory. It is spoken as a thing done: He glorified, because of the certainty of it; he hath saved us. God’s design of love has its full accomplishment. This was what he aimed at all along – to bring them to heaven. Are they chosen? It is to salvation. Called? It is to His kingdom and glory. Begotten again? It is to an inheritance incorruptible. Afflicted? It is to work for them their exceeding and eternal weight of glory. The author of all these things is the same. God Himself hath undertaken the doing of it from first to last. This is a mighty encouragement to our faith and hope.”

Well said Sir Henry. The chain is linked for a purpose. It is a unit. It is whole that cannot be torn apart. No, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called, and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

Take heart and find hope, Oh fainting saint. The chain is strong – omnipotently strong. The chain is sure – it is held together by immutability. The chain is safe – the grace, mercy, and lovingkindness of God has formed and fashioned it on your behalf. Not only that, but your Father – the pursuing, prevailing, and preserving Father – has placed that chain around your neck, around your heart, around your eternal soul as a securing emblem of His covenant promises to you. It is not by your doing that you are in Christ, “but by His doing you are in Christ Jesus.” (1 Cor 1:30) Therefore, rejoice believing one. Laugh with the joy that can only be known by the blood bought sinner. Shout aloud with the triumphant cry of the prisoner set free. Boast Oh sons and daughters of Zion – but “Let him who boasts, boast in the LORD. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. AMEN.”

Chained,

Lori

Predestined?! - Romans 8:29-30

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30)

“The apostle, having reckoned up so many ingredients of the happiness of true believers, comes here to represent the ground of the all, which he lays in predestination. He here sets before us the order of the causes of our salvation, a golden chain, which cannot be broken.” (Matthew Henry)

Like it or not (and many don't), it is a biblical term – “predestination”. It has to be dealt with. It has to be believed. It’s not a theological, made up word – it is a God inspired, God breathed thing. We can’t just ignore it and hope that it will go away. Praise God that we can’t, for it is in this gem of a term that all my true, certain, and lasting hope is found.

Romans has told us a lot about ourselves – it simply echos the assessment of the entire counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation. We are sinners – not sick sinners, but dead sinners (Eph 2:1). Hear God’s own declaration of us in our natural born state since the fall:

• Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and the EVERY intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen 6:5) For the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth. (Gen 8:21)


• There is no one who does good…. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Ps 14)


• Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (Ps 51:5)


• There is no one who does good. God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there is anyone who understands, anyone who seeks after God. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Ps 53)


• The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately wicked; who can understand it? (Jer 17:3)


• All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way. (Is 53:6)


• For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, evny, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man. (Mark 7:21-23)


• And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)


• The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God’ for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is NOT EVEN ABLE to do so. (Rom 8:7)


• But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he CANNOT understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. (1 Cor 2:14)
• The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor 4:4)
• And you were DEAD in your trespasses and sins in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too ALL formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (Eph 2:1-3)
• And when you were DEAD in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.(Col 2:13)
  
  

It’s not a pretty picture – but it is the real deal. Like it or not, that is who we are. Not sick – but dead. (And what can a dead man do? Nothing but rot! If I give a dead man a gift he can’t do anything with it. He must be made alive first – Col 2:13 – and then he’ll grab the gift with gusto! Dead men don't open presents!) Not weak eyed – but blind. Not hard of hearing – but completely deaf. Not a little bit slow in the area of mental acumen – but absolutely uninstructable. Not basically good at heart – but totally wicked at heart through and through. We are all under sin; as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.” (Rom 3:9-12).

That dark backdrop causes the glorious light of the gospel to shine even brighter. We’re dead – there is nothing we can do. We’re wicked – there is nothing more just nor anything more fair that we could receive than hell! Let that sink in. Anything this side of hell is pure grace!

Yet, God gives life and grace and mercy. We are dead – we must be born again (John 3). Jesus Christ said,“’Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born again when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?’” Nicodemus understood the absolute impossibility of this requirement from our part. Just as we had nothing to do with our physical birth, so we have nothing to do with our spiritual birth – we’re dead, we must be made alive. With all those who overheard Christ’s dialogue with the Rich Young Ruler we must say “Then who can be saved?” Our Lord answered them, “The things impossible with men are possible with God!” (Luke 18:26-27).

These things make some folks mad. For me, they make grace more amazing and mercy beyond marvelous. This is my only hope and it is your only hope as well. You see, I recognize that these things are true about me. I remember life before Christ – and no doubt Lori was dead. I wasn’t looking for God – I despised even the thought of Him. I didn’t want to be saved – I wanted my sin in all it’s fullness. And the Bible declares that that is the real truth about every single one of us - including you, my friend. When, by grace, we come to see sin for what it is and ourselves as those who are absolutely dead in it and enslaved by it – then “predestination” isn’t a harsh, cruel, arbitrary, mean thing – it is our only hope and it is a beautiful and marvelous thing. “For while we were still helpless at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Rom 5:6). We were helpless – the omnipotent, merciful, sovereign God has intervened.

Again, hear God’s own testimony of these things:

• But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the LORD. (1 Cor 1:30-31)
• Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purpose in Him…also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will. (Eph 1:4-11)
• But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, MADE us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). (Eph 2:4-5)
• For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that [faith] is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. (Eph 2:8-9)
• No one knows the Son, except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. (Mat 11:27)
• Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (Mt 16:17)
• But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)
• A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. (John 3:27)
• For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. (John 5:21)
• No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:44)
• No one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father. (John 6:65)
• You did not choose Me, but I chose you. (John 15:16)
• For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself. (Ac 2:39)
• And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (Ac 13:48)
• And the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. (Ac 16:14)
• Know brethren, beloved by God, His choice of you. (1 Thes 1:4)
• Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. (1 Thes 5:24)
• Because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. ( 2 Thes 2:13)
• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Pe 1:3)
• But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Pe 2:9)
  
  

And that brings us back to Romans 8 and this golden chain that has been placed, not only around my neck, but around my soul! “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He called, and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom he justified, these He also glorified.”

God is God – even over our salvation. There is not one single thing that this once dead sinner can boast in. Not one single thing but the mercy of God – and in that reality I am humbled, overwhelmed, moved, enabled, emboldened, and ever worshipping this God who has done it all!! The only thing I brought to my salvation was my sin, and praise Christ He took it away from me!

Dead – made alive! “Oh the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the LORD, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Rom 11:33-36)

Amazed at His mercy to me,

Lori

All Things for Good - Romans 8:28

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Here is the sixth privilege in this long list of blessings that are ours in Christ. It is the certainty, hear me - the CERTAINTY of the providence of God in working all things together for our good! "And we KNOW that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Even in the midst of all these wonderful privileges – no condemnation, life, adoption, eternal inheritance, the Spirit’s intercession on our behalf in prayer – life is still hard. That's the understatement of the year, eh?! Afflictions abound. Suffering is real. Trials hit and hurt. The fall comes home to us all in manifold ways.

Yet, in the midst of that we see that the Spirit’s intercession for us is working because, for the believer, the good will of God is being accomplished in all things. Look at verse 27b and 28 together. “…He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Mr. Henry, in looking at these verses as a united whole, reminds us that “the Spirit’s intercession is always effectual” for all things are working together for our good.

What a phenomenal privilege. It gives pain purpose. It gives hope to that which seems hopeless. It grants tenacity in the midst of trials and temptations. It was the Spirit who led Christ into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Mt 4) and it is the Spirit who intercedes perfectly for us while we are there. It is He who marvelously knits our circumstances, God's will, and eternal purposes together into a quilt of providential beauty and usefulness. Our lives truly are a tapestry of grace. On this side of eternity the threads look like knots and stick out in ugly, seemingly unconnected bumps. But not so from God's omniscient and eternal perspective. Some of the most attrocious knots are forming some of the most beautiful designs.

"And we know that God is causing all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His pupose." This is a great privilege. It is also a conditional privilege. However, this conditional privilege comes with an unconditional promise. This promise of providential goodness being born out of even the most horrific badness is reality for a particular, specific, and conditional group of people. It is for those to whom all the other privileges have been given. It is for those who are in Christ – the not condemned, life-given, adopted, heirs who have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within. As the verse puts it, it is for “those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.” It is for them and none other.

The people to whom the privilege is imparted are a particular group. This promise is not for all but only for the elect of God – as the text says, “the called according to His purpose.” Therefore, let us pursue Christ, love God, be filled with the Spirit in order that it would be applied to us. Do you see your sin? Do you see your inability to reach this just and holy God on your own? Then flee to Christ in faith and repentance.

“He was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Who will set me free from the wretched body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. Through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away. For there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved. It shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved, you and your household.” (select verses)

If, by grace through faith in Christ, you are numbered among those who love God then this promise is yours to hold near and dear. It unconditionally applies to you in ALL things. God is causing ALL things to work together for our good. Not some things, not only the good things, not only the pleasant things – ALL things. Everything has good purpose in God’s economy.

For the adopted children of God “all the providences of God are theirs – merciful providences, afflicting providences. They are all for good; perhaps for temporal good, at least, for spiritual and eternal good. Either directly or indirectly, every providence has a tendency to the spiritual good of those that love God. They work together, as several ingredients in a medicine concur to answer the intention.” (Matthew Henry)

This privilege, this promise is not a “hope so” for the Christian it is a “know so” clearly proclaimed by God. Paul begins this promise with the words “and we KNOW.” The promise is certain - because of the One who promises is certain!

Perhaps one of my favorite quotes of Charles Spurgeon comes from this verse. In Morning and Evening he writes:

"Upon some points a believer is absolutely sure. He knows, for instance, that God sits in the stern-sheets of the vessel when it rocks most. He believes that an invisible hand is always on the world's tiller, and that wherever providence may drift, Jehovah steers it. That re-assuring knowledge prepares him for everything. He looks over the raging waters and sees the spirit of Jesus treading the billows, and he hears a voice saying, "It is I, be not afraid." He knows too that God is always wise, and knowing this, he is confident that there can be no accidents, no mistakes; that nothing can occur which ought not to arise. He can say, "If I should lose all I have, it is better that I should lose than have, if God so wills: the worst calamity is the wisest and the kindest things that could befall to me if God ordains it." We know that all things work together for good to them that love God. The Christian does not merely hold this as a theory, but he knows it as a matter of fact. Everythign has worked for good as yet; the poisonous drugs mixed in fit proportions have worked the cure; the sharp cuts of the lancet have cleansed out the proud flesh and facilitated the healing. Every event as yet has worked out the most divinely blessed results; and so, believing that God rules all, that He governs wisely, that He brings good out of evil, the believer's heart is assured, and he is enabled calmly to meet each trial as it comes. The believer can in the spirit of true resignation pray, "Send me what thou wilt, my God, so long as it comes from Thee; never came there an ill portion from Thy table to any of Thy children."


Friends, what are you facing? Are you in the midst of merciful providences or frowning and afflicting ones? Take God at His word, O you chosen children. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Take Him at His word and trust the interceding work of His Spirit to melt your circumstances perfectly into His good and perfect will. Know that it is all - ALL - for your good and for His glory.

Resting in the knowledge of the promise,
Lori

The Problem of Prayer- Romans 8:26-27

“And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)

A fifth privilege is granted to believers by their heavenly Father in these verses. Romans 8 has presented 4 thus far: no condemnation, life, adoption, and an eternal inheritance. In verses 26-27 Paul adds the privilege of the Holy Spirit’s help to us in prayer. How needy I personally am of the application of this one in my own life.

The Spirit helps our weakness - particularly in this context He helps our weakness in the ordinance of prayer. That’s good news. Prayer is a struggle for me. Paul nails it when he writes “for we do not know how to pray as we should.” Over and over and over I find myself not knowing how to pray. Too often I find myself just giving up and getting frustrated by my short comings. I am just flat out weak in this area. What an encouragement to know that “the Spirit also helps our weakness.” While I faint in prayer, the Spirit does not. While I fail in finding the words to pray, the Spirit knows exactly what to say. “But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words.”

Matthew Henry speaks to this issue of our great weakness in prayer. He speaks of our weakness in both the matter and in the manner of prayer. “As to the matter of our requests, we know not what to ask. We are short-sighted. We are like foolish children, that are ready to cry for fruit before it is ripe and fit for them. As to the manner, we know not how to pray as we ought. The apostle speaks of himself in the first person here: we do not know how to pray as we should. He puts himself among the rest. If so great a saint as Paul knew not what to pray for, what little reason have we to go forth about that duty in our own strength!”

Paul needed the Spirit to carry him in prayer. Lori certainly does as well. The good news is that in our need of His assistance He is more than willing and able to lend assistance. “The Spirit also helps our weakness.” He assists us in our praying weakness! While I am attempting to pray, He is praying. While I am searching for words that I cannot seem to find, He is forming prayers that are deeper than human language. The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. How interesting it is to note that the Spirit is interceding for us in our hearts and that Christ is interceding for us in heaven. Only a few verses forward we are told that – Christ Jesus is He who died, yes; rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. (Rom 8:34). We are well covered in this area by the Son and by the Spirit. “So graciously has God provided for the encouragement of the praying remnant.”


Two particulars are mentioned regarding the Spirit’s intercession for us. First, He “intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words.” So often I can’t find words. So often I long for my prayers to be more than words. Sadly, so often I give up due to my stumblings in both areas. Yet, I need to be reminded that the Spirit fills in where we falter– the Spirit stands in the gap for us. He fills in where I fail! Therefore, I need to not grow weary in the well-doing of prayer! When I am incapable of forming words I need not flee from this means of grace I need to flee to the Spirit of grace. “There may be praying in the Spirit where there is not a word spoken. It is not the rhetoric and eloquence, but the faith and fervency, of our prayers, that the Spirit works, in us.” (Matthew Henry)

Second, “He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” The battle of Romans 7 rages ferociously in this area. I long to do God’s will, I too often seek my own will placed above it. I see God’s declared will in the Word, I miss God’s decreed will for my life. I’m a confused creature. I struggle to truly grasp what God’s will is. Yet, again the Spirit steps in and offers me hope and help in this area too. I know not what to pray – He does. He knows it and He prays it on my behalf! “The Spirit interceding in us evermore melts our wills into the will of God.” Soli Deo Gloria!

The Spirit of God knows our weakness in prayer and He offers us assistance in that weakness. And if there is anyone knows just how great our weakness is and just how great our need is, it is the Spirit for it is He who “searches the hearts.” He can look at me in ways I cannot look at myself. He is able to cut to the true heart of the matter – he is able to see into my heart. “To a hypocrite whose religion lies in his tongue, nothing is more dreadful than that God searches the heart. To a sincere Christian, who makes heart-work His duty, nothing is more comfortable. He will hear and answer those desires which we want words to express. He knows what we have need of before we ask. Christ had said ‘Whatever you ask the Father according to His will he will give you.’ But how shall we ask according to His will. Why, the Spirit will teach us that.” (Matthew Henry).


Praying to pray,
Lori

My Groaning - Romans 8:23-25

“And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Romans 8:23-25)

Just as creation feels the weight and curse of the fall so does the crown of creation – man. All the burdens we face are a direct result of sin – either our own, someone else’s towards us or the simple fact that it’s a fallen world. We feel the weight and that weight makes us “groan.” With all of creation we are waiting for the final fix-it!

As Christians, who have the Spirit of the Living God indwelling us, I believe we long for eternity more than any other part of creation does. We have a slight taste of heaven. We have the most precious of gifts, yet it has only been opened slightly. We have a true but still unfocused knowledge of the infinite God. Those glimpses make us more and more hungry for the full and complete to replace the partial and incomplete. At least I know that it is true for me. I find myself aching for heaven more and more and more – not as an escape from where I am but as the fulfillment of who I am. “We having received such glorious clusters in this wilderness, cannot but long for the full vintage in the heavenly Canaan.” (Matthew Henry)

This waiting causes us to “groan within ourselves.” I have found that to be so true throughout this entire year. I eagerly await the day that my faith will be made sight. I long for the day when my adoption, which is legally done, is fully achieved and I see my blessed Father face to face – “to behold the beauty of the LORD.” (Ps 27:1). If we don’t groan for Him, do we really know Him?

In verse 23 the resurrection of the body is referred to as “the redemption of our body.” And that it truly is for our bodies will be redeemed from the curse of sin. They “shall be rescued from the power of death and the grave.” They “shall be made like that glorious body of Christ.” (Ph 3:21, 1 Cor 15:42). On that day our adoption will be perfected. “The children of God have bodies as well as souls; and, till those bodies are brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God, the adoption is not perfect.” (Henry)

That day will come but it is not yet. So, we wait eagerly. We wait in certain hope. Henry closes his comments on this section of Romans 8 with these words:

“Our full happiness is not in present possession. Our reward is out of sight. Those that will deal with God must deal upon trust. Faith respects the promise, hope respects the thing promised. Faith is the evidence, hope the expectation, of things not seen. Faith is the mother of hope. We do with patience wait. In hoping for this glory we have need of patience. Our way is rough and long, and though He seem to tarry, it becomes us to wait for Him.”

All along this waiting journey may we pause to set up Ebenezers of the many promises He has fulfilled, the many mercies He has manifested, and the bountiful blessings He has poured out. And may those stones of remembrance serve as stepping stones along the way to our heavenly home. He is coming – I am groaning and eagerly awaiting the fullness of my adoption as His daughter and the redemption not only of my soul but of my body.


Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Lori

Creation's Groaning -Romans 8:19-22

“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.” (Romans 8:19-22)

Verses 17-18 looked at the glorification which lies ahead after we suffer but a little while in this fallen world. The next few verses look at the process of our waiting for it to be accomplished. Clearly, from the text it is an anxious longing and an eager waiting. I know it is in my own heart – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Even creation itself is longing for future glory. “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly….” “For creation was subjected to futility….” “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers….” The fall doesn’t satisfy it just leaves us longing for something more. “That must needs be a great and a transcendent glory, which all the creatures are so earnestly expecting and longing for” (Henry).

Mr. Henry offers 4 observations from the text:

1. “There is a present vanity to which the creature, by reason of the sin of man is made subject." – For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him, who subjected it…(vs 20).

In Genesis 3 we see the curse of the fall extending to all of creation. “We have reason to pity the poor creatures that for our sin have become subject to vanity.” The ground is cursed, thorns grow, weeds appear, weakness swallows strength, sickness comes on the scene and death is the destiny of all. There’s nothing pretty about the effects of sin –nothing! Yet, we are all subjected to it. We are in slavery to its corruption.

“The creation is sullied and stained, much of the beauty of the world is gone. And it is not the least part of their bondage that they are used, or abused rather, by men as instruments of sin.” (Henry). Oh, How beautiful will the renewed earth be after the consummation of the ages?

2. “The creatures groan and travail in pain together under this vanity.” For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (vs 22)

“Sin is a burden to the whole creation and there is a general outcry of the whole creation against the sin of man.” (Henry). O that I would hate sin all the more as I look at its destructive effects on this world.

3. “The creature shall be delivered in due time.” The creation will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

A new heavens and a new earth is coming. Renewal is on the way. Freedom from the curse will appear. Slavery will be abolished. That which Adam wronged will be righted.

4. “The creature does therefore earnestly expect the revealing of these things.” For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

There is much chaff. There are many weeds. Creation longs, beyond that it groans for the consummation of the age. I groan too!

Longing for things to be as they ought,

Waiting for things to be as they will,

Lori

Heirs Eternal- Romans 8:17-18

“And if children of God, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:17-18)

Three blessed privileges have been held forth thus far – no condemnation, life and adoption. But its not over yet. His gifts just keep coming! Here is the fourth wonderful benefit to those that are in Christ – inheritance! “If children of God, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ….”

“Heaven is an inheritance that all the saints are heirs to. They do not come to it by any merit of their own; but as heirs, purely by the act of God. Their present state is a state of education and preparation for the inheritance” (Matthew Henry). While we wait we are learning about and being made ready for and anxiously anticipating what lies ahead.

Two things are pointed out.

1. We are “heirs of God”. “The Lord Himself is the portion of the saints’ inheritance.” What more could we ask for? What more could we need? He is all. He is everything. "In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). “The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup” (Ps 16:5). “Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth” (Ps 73:25).

2. We are “joint-heirs with Christ.” All that Christ has received will be ours in heaven. “Those that now partake of the Spirit of Christ, as His brethren, shall partake of His glory.” He is the bread of life – we will be fully fed and fully satisfied. He is the living water – our thirst will be slaked and we will be refreshed. Can we even begin to comprehend what all this implies? No, we can not!

Paul then turns to the issue of suffering and he looks at it in the light of eternity. “…if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” “The state of the church in this world is always an afflicted state. He tells them that they suffered with Christ, and that they shall be glorified with Him. Though we may appear as losers for Him in this world, we shall not be losers by Him in the end.” This world seems so full of sadness and sorrow. Yet, place it in the scale of eternity and see that there is no comparison between what lies in the past and what lies at the present when weighed against what lies in our eternal future. “For I consider that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Note that our sufferings are in “this present time.” They are momentary and last for only a fleeting moment. Later on, in 2 Corinthians 5, Paul refers to our very serious trials as being “momentary and light.” How can he say that? Because he is weighing them by the eternal scale not the temporal. Stack your sufferings next to you glorification in Christ and see that your glorification is an “exceeding and eternal weight.”

Present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with “the glory that is to be revealed to us.” I turn again to Henry, “In our present state we come short, not only in the enjoyment, but in the knowledge of that glory: it shall be revealed. It surpasses all that we have yet seen and known. There is something to come, something behind the curtain, that will outshine all.”

Amazingly it will not only be revealed to us that we might know it but it will be revealed in us that we might own it. It will be ours to enjoy.

As we suffer may we have eternal vision. Our sufferings don’t compare to the glory that is to be revealed. “The sufferings are small and short, and concern the body only; but the glory is rich and great, and concerns the soul, and is eternal! This he reckons as an arithmetician that is balancing an account. He first sums up what is disbursed for Christ in the suffering of this present time, and finds they come to very little; he then sums up with is secured to us by Christ in the glory that shall be revealed, and this he finds to be an infinite sum. And who would be afraid then to suffer for Christ, who as He is beforehand with us in suffering, so He will not be behind-hand with us in recompense?” (Matthew Henry)

Forget what lies behind, fear not what faces me now – look ahead, press on, fix your eyes on the prize. I can’t help but think of the book of 1 Peter, that glorious epistle on suffering. In the first chapter we are pointed to the living hope that we have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Christ was resurrected and has caused us to be born again “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God, through faith for a salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

O LORD my God – Make me to look forward to what You have secured for me and make me to live for a little while, if necessary, as a sufferer who brings praise and glory and honor to you. Grant me eternal eyes in every ordeal that Your divine wisdom ordains for me to face.

An heir of the eternal,

Lori