WHAT SHALL WE SAY?
Romans 8:31-32
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
In yesterday's devotional I made a confession that Romans chapter seven was not a favorite chapter. It is ironic that Romans seven is right next to one of my top five favorite chapters in the Bible, Romans eight.
The wealth of life-changing truth in this chapter is amazing. If you have not read the chapter, I encourage you to take five minutes or less out of your busy schedule and read it. This chapter starts with our place in union with Christ and how we are free from condemnation if we simply walk according to the Spirit. I know that is easier said than done, but in the rest of the chapter, Paul begins to explain what walking according to the Spirit looks like. Paul writes of being spiritually minded and the Spirit of God living in us. He refers to being led and guided by the Holy Spirit, the One who witnesses to our hearts that we are children of God.
Chapter eight points out the Holy Spirit's involvement in our prayer life and God's plan for us that we look more and more like Jesus. This is such an awesome chapter. It's in the context of these truths in verses one through thirty that leads us to our verses for today.
What shall we say to these things? What things? All the amazing things that are now ours because we have put our faith in Christ. The fact that in Christ we have been called or chosen by God and justified or made right in His sight. I heard a man describe justified as "just as if I'd" never sinned. An interesting play on words that conveys the thought of being right with God.
So what shall we say to these things? That God has paid a great price that we might have a relationship with Him. That we are now His children. That we have received the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption, not fear, so we can call God our father. Now, we can say that if God is for us, who can be against us? We can say that God did not withhold Jesus, His own Son, but delivered Him up for us. That God freely gives us all things. If God did not spare His Son, why would He withhold from us? Compared to Jesus, everything else is minor.
The chapter concludes by talking about God's love for us and Jesus making intercession or praying for us on our behalf. And that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. There is so much to say about the things written in this chapter, and we'll be saying these things throughout eternity.
APPLICATION
Some things are worth talking about, and some are a complete waste of time. Romans chapter eight and the truths contained there are worth repeating. Just saying aloud that God is for us, will help us. Just saying that God has not withheld His very best from us and freely gives us all things, will strengthen us. Even if these truths seem so "out there" and not a reality in our lives, we can say them because God has said them. What shall we say to these things? We say that we believe them and are thankful.
PRAYER
Lord, I thank You that because of Jesus, everything You say about me in Romans chapter eight is true. You are for me, so it doesn't matter who is against me.