Romans 8:28-39
Can you think of the one thing (or things) that you would never give up? There are jokes out there that some men would give up their wives before the would give up football. Or perhaps a wife might be heard to say "he loves that car more than he does me". I am no stranger to attachments. I spent a great deal of time and money accumulating things that were very important to me. But lets get a bit more serious, are you familiar with the love of another such that you might find yourself feeling and saying that you'd give your life for that person? Your spouse.Your kids perhaps? I do know that feeling.
In Paul's letter to the Roman's highlighted in this scripture passage, we are reminded that God offered up his only son for us. This is not a cheap remake of when Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test only to have God say, no, don't do that. No, this story is the real deal. Jesus, the man, about whom God says "this is my beloved son" is offered up. God allows his own son to be offered up for us. For you. For me. THAT is love.
I can only imagine what I cling to. We cling to such petty things in the scheme of things. If I was asked to give up any of it, would I be willing to give it up? God gave his son. Jesus gave his life. Perhaps we can further appreciate this gift when we take note that Jesus was fully human, he gave up his life, his truly good friends. He had to say goodbye to his mother as a human. He had to watch while she watched the whole thing unfold. Jesus also gave up his pride for us. Can you imagine how humiliating it must have been to be such a respected and loved preacher and miracle worker, being bullied through the streets carrying your own cross and then being basically stripped naked in public and hung on cross to die. Could we give up any portion of our pride like this?
What would we be willing to give up? We are not asked to do so for the most part but we do place value on things and on people. We need to appreciate them. Most of all, we need to appreciate what God gave us and is still giving us.
Can you think of the one thing (or things) that you would never give up? There are jokes out there that some men would give up their wives before the would give up football. Or perhaps a wife might be heard to say "he loves that car more than he does me". I am no stranger to attachments. I spent a great deal of time and money accumulating things that were very important to me. But lets get a bit more serious, are you familiar with the love of another such that you might find yourself feeling and saying that you'd give your life for that person? Your spouse.Your kids perhaps? I do know that feeling.
In Paul's letter to the Roman's highlighted in this scripture passage, we are reminded that God offered up his only son for us. This is not a cheap remake of when Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test only to have God say, no, don't do that. No, this story is the real deal. Jesus, the man, about whom God says "this is my beloved son" is offered up. God allows his own son to be offered up for us. For you. For me. THAT is love.
I can only imagine what I cling to. We cling to such petty things in the scheme of things. If I was asked to give up any of it, would I be willing to give it up? God gave his son. Jesus gave his life. Perhaps we can further appreciate this gift when we take note that Jesus was fully human, he gave up his life, his truly good friends. He had to say goodbye to his mother as a human. He had to watch while she watched the whole thing unfold. Jesus also gave up his pride for us. Can you imagine how humiliating it must have been to be such a respected and loved preacher and miracle worker, being bullied through the streets carrying your own cross and then being basically stripped naked in public and hung on cross to die. Could we give up any portion of our pride like this?
What would we be willing to give up? We are not asked to do so for the most part but we do place value on things and on people. We need to appreciate them. Most of all, we need to appreciate what God gave us and is still giving us.
28 We know that all things work together for good* for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.* 30And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.* 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written,
‘For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
‘For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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