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God on our Side

Romans 8:31
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (NIVUK)

Perhaps, theologically, this is a strange title.  The whole emphasis of the gospel is not to make human beings the centre of attention, with God standing by to service our needs; rather, God is the centre of attention and we are called to submit to Him.  Yet it is also true that having agreed with God's opinion that we are sinners who deserve to be condemned, and repented, we are then justified by His grace, made clean and forgiven – and God stands at our side in times of great testing, as Paul testified in 2 Timothy 4:17.  

Wonderfully, God's grace does not stop at the level of judicial pardon: it continues by making us children of God. Therefore, God is "for us" because He assumes fatherly responsibility "for us".  He supports us, provides for our needs, and defends us for His own sake, because we belong to Him.  It is His glory which may be compromised if He leaves us unprotected.  

Therefore, believers have every right to expect that God will exercise His sovereign power on their behalf. That does not mean that people who follow Jesus automatically live a trouble-free life, but it does mean that God always has the last word.  And that is always for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Of course, we must be careful not to use this verse to try to manipulate God.  He sovereignly always does what is right, however difficult that may seem to be for us in the process.  But we can be totally assured that God will never leave us alone or abandon us to our enemies.  Because He has the last word, we must expect that the battles will not be won until their end - however, they will be won.  So do not despair, do not be anxious and do not change your course away from God's purpose; because He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Prayer 
O Lord of power and might. Thank You for being my heavenly Father and for taking responsibility to protect me from the power of those who want to pull me away from Your love. I am sorry for the times when I have walked away or allowed myself to be seduced into believing that You do not care. Please help me to believe today's verse and to live every day in the confidence that because I belong to You, I am ultimately safe. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams