Living Free預覽

Prayer: Lord, thank you for constantly pursuing me with your steadfast love. Thank you for not making me stay separated from you, but giving me a way to be with you forever. I pray that as I face daily hardships and trials that seem unbearable, I would remember that I am more than a conqueror with you by my side. Please continue to teach me about how much you love me and show me how I can love you more.

God is For Us

We know from the past few days of reading that God has given his followers an unbelievable gift: those who are in Christ are not just spared from condemnation but are granted the status of co-heirs in his inheritance. Nothing can stand in the way of God providing the very best for his children.  God sent his Son to die in our place because it was the only way to save us from the mess we made. God is the only one with the authority to charge us with the guilt we deserve; however, he chooses not to. Why? God is for us.  He wants the best for us. He doesn't want us to perish - he wants us to live and to love him. He wants us to turn to him for protection in every circumstance.

Even though God is for us, we will still face hard times. Jesus promised his followers that if we are to share in his glory, then we also must share in his suffering. God loved his Son, but he still allowed him to suffer. We can see that Paul is not a stranger to this concept. He endured incredible suffering to the point of death with certainty that the world could not condemn him. Paul held fast to God’s love, which was proven to him on the cross.

Nothing can separate us from the love of our Father. Not the grave, not any created beings, not space or time, nothing that the present or the future may hold, not even the good or bad things we do. Nothing! 

Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. What are some things that you feel are barriers in your relationship with God? What does scripture say about these barriers?
2. Write down a list of things that you’re scared to do or do not feel equipped to do. How does knowing that God is on your side change your view of these things?

What’s Next? 

1. Think back to a time when you have suffered or have faced a trial. How was God there during that time? How did you endure that suffering?