Category: Romans

Romans 8:35a Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

I have come to realize that I am the person who can most effectively, most efficiently separate myself from Christ. My attitude, my anger, my bitterness, my sadness–these things can separate me more quickly than anything else on earth.

Romans 8:35b Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

But even when I throw up barrier after barrier, His love is still with me. He loves me fiercely, deeply, unconditionally. Whether I feel like I deserve it or not, whether I am angry at Him or not, He still loves me completely. No matter what. Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ.

Romans 8:36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your unconditional, unequivocal, unending love. Thank You that the barriers I place between us can’t stop Your love. Thank You for that surety and that peace. Amen.

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

I often paraphrase Romans 8:28 as “God can use all things for our good and His glory.” And while I doubt I’ll change that paraphrase (I’ve been using it a loooong time), as I look at the verse this morning, I notice a lot more nuance.

Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 

For one, God is working “for the good of those who love Him.” He is WORKING in all things, no matter what. And He’s working for OUR good. But our hearts must belong to Him. “…for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:30a And those he predestined, he also called; 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that our focus must remain on You. That as long as You are at our core, You are our compass, our center, our focus, You will work for our good in all things. No matter what. Thank You. Amen.

Romans 8:30b …those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:26a In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  

I’ll admit that the Spirit is the part of the Trinity that I understand the least, which is ironic, I guess, because I also think the Spirit is Jesus IN me, that little voice that reminds me of His presence, His love, His peace.

Romans 8:26b …We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

The fact that the Spirit knows how to intercede on our behalf even when we don’t know how to pray, what to pray…that fact brings me great comfort. The fact that my prayers of “Jesus. Jesus. Jesus” or “Please. Please. Please” become an articulate plea to my Savior’s ears, that fact brings me great comfort.

Romans 8:27a And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit… 

Precious Savior, Thank You that Your Spirit is IN me, always, that I am never without You because of Your Spirit. Thank You that You know my heart, even when I can’t be articulate with my words. Thank You that I don’t have to understand the mysteries of You to draw closer to You. Thank You. Amen.

Romans 8:27b …because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Have a blessed day.

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

Precious Savior, Thank You for the gift of hope, which is so incredibly important. Help me, daily, find ways to hold on to hope, no matter my circumstances, my doubts, my fears.

Romans 8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

Lord, Thank You for the gift of Your blessings. You lavish me with blessings daily–sunshine, friendship, hope, joy. Help me to always be on the lookout for Your blessings as they are always around me.

Romans 8:24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?

Jesus, Thank You for the gift of renewal. I’m tired. So tired. But I know I don’t have to shoulder my burdens alone. I know that You are with me. I know that You love me. I know that I have hope through You, with You, in You. Thank You. Amen.

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

Have a blessed day.

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

When I read verse 18, I am filled with a sense of anticipation of what’s to come. Yes, there is suffering now, but it pales in comparison to the glory that will be revealed in us. Which brings me to a second point, that glory won’t be delivered to us eventually, it will be revealed, meaning it is already IN us now, waiting to be made known.

Romans 8:19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 

Think about that…. God’s glory is already IN us. It’s ALREADY there. We currently possess within us God’s glory. We just can’t see it yet. It’s not been revealed. The chaos and noise of reality is loud and insistent and distracting. But God’s glory is already there, and it is waiting to be revealed.

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

Lord, Thank You for the hope that comes with joyful anticipation. Thank You that Your glory is already within me, even if I can’t see it. Even if I can’t fathom it, it’s there. It’s waiting. It WILL be revealed. And when it is, all my present sufferings will be a distant memory, and Your glory will shine brightly. Thank You. Amen.

Romans 8:21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:15a The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;  

Bethel Music has a song entitled “No Longer a Slave to Fear.” That song came to mind as I read these verses as it has to be where the song originated. And as I read these verses and read the song lyrics, it hits home that I am still shackled by fear, by doubt, by longing and regret.

Romans 8:15b …rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

And I know, I KNOW, that’s not what God wants for me. God has called me His beloved child. He loves me deeply, fiercely. He doesn’t want me to be afraid, to doubt, and yet, fear hounds me.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

Precious Savior, I long to be able to truthfully and fully say that I am no longer a slave to fear. I pin my hopes on “one day” being able to live without doubt and fear, but You call me Your beloved child, which means that day is today. Help me to lay my doubts and fears at Your feet so that I can go boldly into this day for You. Amen.

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

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.  

I am a hot mess. But I have an obligation to try to live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. Some days I do a great job of living by the Spirit. Some days I fail terribly.

Romans 8:13a For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;

But to know that I am still a deeply loved child of God even when I mess up, to know that the Spirit is still in me, even when I don’t live up to the guidance of the Spirit, that knowledge is priceless.

Romans 8:13b …but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your love, Your compassion, Your mercy. Thank You for the knowledge that You love me fiercely, even when I mess up. Help me to love others as You love me. Help me to draw closer to You with each breath. Amen.

Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:9a You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.  

The holidays can be difficult when you lose someone who is dear to you. But we do not grieve as those without hope. However, today’s scripture reminds us that not only does the Spirit give us hope after death, but also it gives us hope in life.

Romans 8:9b …And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

On my own, I am a mess. I am fleshly and human. I make selfish choices. But today’s scripture reminds me the Spirit “will also give life to your mortal [body].” *I* am fleshly and human, but “the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is living in” me, and that Spirit is powerful and present.

Romans 8:10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 

Precious Savior, It is hard to fathom that You can use a hot mess like me. It is hard to comprehend that the same Spirit that gives me hope when I grieve is present IN me, giving me hope as I fumble through this life. Help me to cling to Your Spirit, Your hope, always. Amen.

Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  

A hedonist is someone who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life. It is someone who lives exclusively for the desires of the flesh. They are seeking pleasure for themselves, not for others. They don’t care much about others.

Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

The Spirit desires us to live for others–how we can help them, how we can love them, how we can lift them up. I don’t think the Spirit desires us to lift others at our own expense, but I think the focus is outward, on shining God’s light for all.

Romans 8:7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 

Precious Savior, The world tells us to put ourselves first, make ourselves happy, even at the expense of others. You tell us that that is not the way to live, to love. I truly believe that life is about balance. I have to take care of myself, but I should uplift and help others as well. Help me to do all these things through You, with You, and in You. Amen.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Have a blessed day.