Scripture reference

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor 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. - Rom 8.28-39

This is an amazing text, read it over and over and be blessed. So dense, and perhaps sometime I'll attempt to write about it. I haven't been reading much or writing much at all recently, but I should have something concrete tomorrow. This is a great post-Easter (everyday if we're honest) thought we need to immerse our brains in: "Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." Oh, how sweet are those words! The Son of God, who died for us and was risen for us, is at the right hand of God interceding for us! Oh, without the divine love we would be stomped upon like the worms we are, but because of this love we will be ushered into the gates of heaven and worship God for eternity! How blessed is the lamb that was slain?

A nice chunk from Romans

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring--not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.- Romans 4.13-5.11

Oh so great a passage. I read this chunk a few times in my devotions today, every time it sank it to give me deeper insights and a greater appreciation and love for Jesus Christ, my savior and my righteousness. May everyone who takes the time to read it let it digest and let it change you. Maybe I'll write on it later.

Ashamed of the gospel?

"I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1.14-16

Are you eager to preach the gospel, or are you ashamed of it? If you understand the gospel and understand that the gospel is necessary to save sinners (for you yourself have only been saved by hearing it with faith), then why do you not preach it? It is either shame of the gospel and God, or lack of love for the world. Either way, if you find yourself in this condition, pray that God will change your heart and give you a passion for the lost. You are (whether you feel it or not) under obligation, a divine command from Christ, to preach the gospel to all men from all nations (Matt 28.19-20).