We were talking about hope. What hope that Christian has and what hope Jesus will bring. At the end, we were talking about how encouraging 8:28 was.
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.
This verse alone we can relate to when we go through trials and when things are not going to our ways.
I dug a bit deeper and kept going.....
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 8:28
Not only did God picked us. He called us to Him. He even justified us and glorified us. We see how much God cares for us that He did all that for us.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:31-32
Even God, in His plan to redeem us, He even give up His Son. How much more would He give us all...everything!
I skipped the middle verses and talked about the end of chapter 8.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
This is how secure our Hope is. His love for us is so solid that nothing can separate us from Him. He secure all these for us. I then shared with the group, this is what He is doing...that no matter what we are going through, nothing can take that away from us.
A lot of times in trials and 'suffering' (especially suffering for being a Christian), I know I tend to focus on the pain and the hurt. However, Paul in this case, paint a picture of the riches and generosity of God. He gave so much to us. That's our Hope. Even when we face death, we need not to fear because God gave so much to us.....
Hmm..focus on the Hope..not in the pain.
Romans 8:28 is encouraging...and I find the rest of the chapter even more so. Paul just listing the things that Father give. This and that. Even His own Son to bring us back to Him.
Hmm...so much to thankful for....AMEN!
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