In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response 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, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:26-39
The worst sort of accusation is the charge of doing the right thing-when the right thing for the right reasons looks wrong. There are people who are advantaged by the fact that you look wrong. There are people who never look deeper than the appearances and make a snap judgment from which you must dig your way out. I remember when we had to dismiss someone from their very public role, I received notes and phone calls and was pulled aside for private chastisement. Because of the situation, I couldn't defend myself and it was hurtful when people who I thought of as friends and people I respected could not take, "Trust us, it is the right decision, but I can't tell you more." as an answer.
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things?" There is a point where you can do nothing and say nothing and must trust God when he says the same sort of things to me: "Trust me, it is the right decision, but I can't tell you more." Ultimately, God is the judge who will see through all secrets. But trusting that is tough.
The one thing I recognize now is that I did not add caring into my response. In these verses, God is careful to tell us "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Trust is difficult if you don't really know how someone cares about you and in my situations before, my disagreements with people led me to withhold caring. But if I am to follow Jesus, care must extend through any disagreement.
No comments:
Post a Comment