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

Having just presented a rousing declaration of the benefits of being in Christ Jesus, the Apostle Paul begins the climax to his wonderful message with these two rhetorical questions. He asks the Romans for their response to this unprecedented spiritual gift.
The apostle has set forth the mystery of God’s love for all Christians and the great and precious privileges that Jesus brought through His life and death; now he wants the Romans to be introspective and to allow the power of this information to penetrate their hearts, thus strengthening their faith.
How powerfully this message comes through to us. The answer to the first question is “nothing,” and the answer to the second is “no one.” No words will do in trying to explain what God has done for us by the gift of His Son and our salvation. And, no one has any real power over us if we are with God.

Thought for the Week.1-31-16.Give Us a King
 
“But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the Lord” (1 Samuel 8:6).
 
The prophet Samuel no doubt knew God’s attitude toward this rebellious demand from the people before he ever prayed to God. God was the ruler of the people, and He wanted it to stay that way.
 
This demand really speaks to an aggressive attitude the people had developed and to their moving away from depending on God as their only ruler. That is what displeased God. They wanted to be like the other nations that had a king, and God wanted them to be His unique people who continued to rely upon Him.
 
God wants the same from us today. He wants us to depend on Him by relying on the instructions in His word and by showing our devotion and dependence on Him through prayer and faithful service. May we ever be such a people.
 
Love,
Joe