This is life giving

But first . . . a little context for this radical message.

Listen to this podcast here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/35649253/this-is-life-g...

The subject was friendship.  I was speaking to a group of women,

describing the nature of a true friend.   

A true friend is

someone who says to another

I am FOR YOU.

I will cheer you on,

I will believe the best in you,

I will release you of my expectations of you,

I will pray for you,

I will hold you close in my heart, but not demand you be close at my side,

I will show up for you if you need me,

I will keep your confidences … 1

To be FOR someone means I try my best to identify with him, celebrate his victories and mourn his setbacks.  It means I deeply and sincerely wish him well. At its utmost, if I am FOR someone, it means I would get in the trenches and fight for him, sacrifice for him, and yes, I might even give my life for him.

God is that kind of friend -- God is FOR us.  What's more--our Father is that kind of God.

Again, Romans chapter eight:

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.” Romans 8.31-34

That one line surely must scream off the page at you, doesn’t it?

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

Rightly understanding this truth changes everything.  If God is for us, who can be against us?  We know ‘God is for us’ because 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, any Jew who knew the Scriptures well, would identify with Paul’s wording about God ‘not sparing his own Son, giving him up’.  ‘See, that was what God had said about Abraham in Genesis chapter 22, “You have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”  Do you see how brilliantly Paul constructed these several verses?  

Packed with meaning, the gospel in brief, the heart of God displayed, and a clear way that Jewish Paul spoke to the heart and mind of the Jewish reader, in the first century until today.

Since our God is FOR us, no one can condemn us . . . is that true?  Many of us forget that, and allow others to condemn us in various ways.  We let others wag their long finger at us with the harsh sting of criticism, the shaking head of disapproval, the regular reminders of our failures; and the result is that it affects our thinking and we lose sight of what God thinks.

Regularly, I am reminded of Jesus' teaching in John chapter 10. Ever the brilliant teacher, master of the word picture, Jesus describes himself as our Good Shepherd  who lays down his life for the sheep.2 Whereas the enemy comes only to steal and kill and destroy, Jesus comes to give us abundant life,3 a rich and satisfying life.

Along with David, I shall add to my daily prayer this recognition, "Lord, You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.4

I ask you, if God is for you, then who can be against you? 

Goodness Gracious, will you listen? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcfzM8yMaW8 

God is for you.

Christine DiGiacomo

PastorWoman.net

^{1 -  from a study I wrote called “Becoming the Friend You’d Like to Have” … also the subject of Women’s Retreat!}

^{2 - John 10.11}

^{3- John 10.10}

4 - Psalm 16.11, ESV