Living in the Spirit
July 28, 2017
Scripture Reading: Romans 8:26-39
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,
‘For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted 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, 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. –Romans 8:31-39
Christ assured us we do not do anything by ourselves, and we are called to do everything we possibly can to actualize the Kingdom of God to full fruition. When I think of conquerors, I think of folks like Attila the Hun who swoop down and win through war and oppression. What does it mean to be more than conquerors?
Several years ago, I swam at the Y most week days. After getting out of the pool and showering, I would join the crowd in the locker room each of us in various stages of preparing for the day ahead. I could not help overhearing the conversations particularly of the young women talking about how great their workout was, what athletic shoes were best for jogging vs. running, etc. Their enthusiasm was amazing. I remember thinking that is evangelism—telling the good news about something that had improved their lives. Fred Craddock wrote a book about Overhearing the Gospel. Cramming something down someone else’s throat is conquering without regard to how it might hurt. Sharing good news—life nurturing information is beyond conquering.
What better news exist than the confidence 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?
Prayer: Lord, teach us to share your Good News not as conquerors but as one’s who are continuously nurtured by you. Amen.