Romans – Page 7 – Be Still…

Romans 9:1-13 – God’s Choice

Sometimes we get caught up in the details and miss what’s right in front of our faces. I have always wondered what will happen to the Jews, God’s “chosen people” if they don’t accept Jesus (one of their own) as God’s son? That isn’t for me to worry about. God chooses who he will choose. Their destiny is in his hands.

Paul seems to be a little distraught about his fellow Jews, as well, in today’s passage. Experiencing “bitter sorrow” and “unending grief” doesn’t sound particularly pleasant. Paul is not in a happy place to be sure. He is probably not alone, and he is addressing that “elephant in the room” to his audience in Rome. We, too, can look around at our brothers and sisters and be saddened that some of them aren’t followers of Christ. But today’s passage goes deeper than this. What is it saying to you?

Romans 8:31-39 – Absolutely Nothing

Read Romans 8:31-39

Absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of our Father. The world will try to fill our heads with lies telling us a different story. Don’t listen. Nothing. Absolutely nothing can come between us and God. Ever. We can rebel and turn our backs on God, but his love will never fail.

Maybe you’ve had a time in your life when you’ve strayed from God. Believe it or not, he was there all the time. If you can, recall those times. I remember being indifferent and certainly not in communication with my Father. I suppose it’s like being estranged from a family member. You might go months or years without talking to a loved one. Does that mean you stopped loving them?

Romans 8:26-30 – The Best Helper

Read Romans 8:26-30

The Holy Spirit helps us. We all need help, too. Some won’t take advantage of that help or even realize there is help to be had. There was a time in my life when I forgot this and ignored this gift. I know I’m not alone. There are many people on this planet who don’t yet know Jesus, let alone the Holy Spirit.

It’s a good thing that God knew us all first. He knew that we would stumble and be blind to his gloriously simple truth. Love, follow, and obey. We complicate it and want to know every detail. Instead of just trusting the God who created all that is, we think we’ve got it figured out.

Romans 8:18-25 – Hope for Your Future

Read Romans 8:18-25

All of us are struggling with something. Maybe it’s getting older, maybe it’s weight issues, maybe it’s relationship issues, maybe it’s financial issues. Sometimes we feel like all we do is face an uphill battle. One step forward and then two steps back. If you can identify, this passage is for you.

We are not alone in our struggles. We read today that “all creation” eagerly waits and has been groaning in pains of childbirth. For all who know God and his beautiful gift of salvation, we wait in anticipation of something beyond our comprehension. The saying, “this, too, shall pass” should be on our lips.

Romans 8:1-17 – Abba Father

Read Romans 8:1-17

This may be my favorite reading in Romans so far. There is so much to convict us in this reading. If someone reads this and doesn’t want to follow Christ, there must be something wrong with them. If nothing else, the perks are great!

Did you have a favorite verse that spoke to you?