God is FOR you . . . He proved it!

Listen here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/3580d7f4/god-is-for-you

God is FOR you.  

The question was a reasonable one: 'why go into the details about Jesus' trials? Why talk about his torturous, horrific death on the Cross? I get it--Jesus died. Can't we just move on over to the part that matters about Easter? Jesus rose from the grave ... he was resurrected!' 

I am not done looking at all of it, I guess--the historical record of Jesus' last hours with his disciples, his emotional prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane as he wrestles with the notion that there has to be another way. O, there has to be another way than what he is about to face at the hands of the Romans and the Jewish leaders!

But, you see, being a bystander as first one friend betrays Jesus, and another denies him gives us greater understanding of just how much God loves us. What Jesus willingly goes through to give mankind a way to relationship with him is staggering when seen up close. 

And here's the thing--if you ever have a doubt about the love of God, you should not; and if you ever wondered about the Father, here is your answer:

God is FOR you.

Leave it to Paul to describe for us:

“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?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding [going to bat] for us.” Romans 8.31-34

That one line surely must scream off the page at you, does it not?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

I don’t know about you, but if we rightly understand this and operate daily in light of it, it changes everything for us! 

If God is for us, who can be against us?  In brief, Paul then shows us what he means by ‘God is for us’---he gave up his Son for us, which, if he did that, then he will graciously give us all that we need.  God has chosen us, and then justified us, (made us right with him), so no one can condemn us. Jesus died for us, rose again, sits next to his Father in Heaven, and prays for us.  Oh yes, I would say that God is FOR US!

Interestingly enough, anyone who knows the Scriptures well, will identify with Paul’s wording about God ‘not sparing his own Son, giving him up’.  Interestingly, that was what God said about Abraham in Genesis chapter 22, “You have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”  Ah, the Old Testament tied in with the New Testament, fulfilled in Jesus.

Since our God is FOR us, no one can condemn us . . . is that true?  

Many of us forget this truth and allow others to condemn us.  We let others wag the long finger of condemnation at us—there is the harsh sting of criticism, the shaking head of disapproval, the regular reminders of our failures; and, because we permit it, in essence, we condemn ourselves.  That ought not be because God is FOR us.

Let this truth wash over you today. 

Oh, but wait just a second; maybe you condemn yourself: 'if only I wasn't ...' 'If only I could ___, then...' 'If only I hadn't ___, then...' Don't you get it? You've got yourself locked in a prison of your own making. How about this 'because God is FOR me, I can go into the day in confidence with him. Because God is for me, his love for me never failing, today is a new day--a day in which I can say with a smile 'this is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it'!*.

Whatever is dogging you, give it to the Lord and let it go. Then go boldly into today. 

Remember that, no matter what came before, God is FOR you, and there is Jesus.

Song: There Was Jesus, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CNqhpRycfY

God is FOR you...look for him

Christine

PastorWoman.net

*Psalm 118.24