Grasp the fact that God is for you--let this certainty make its impact on you in relation to what you are up against at this very moment; and you will find in thus knowing God as your sovereign protector, irrevocably committed to you in the covenant of grace, both freedom from fear and new strength for the fight. [J.I. Packer]Yes, God is for me.
If God is for us, who can be against us?
But reading my friend Andrea's post which included Packer's quotation brought one issue forcefully to my mind: But why? Why is God for me? And should He even be?
This morning I transgressed God's law. And not in a "Oops, what just happened?" sort of way. This was a "I hear You talking and I don't want to listen!" sort of way. It was iniquity, sin, rebellion. I defied God to His face.
But He is "for" me?
It doesn't make any sense. He knows what I've done-- He was right there. But He is still "for" me. Why? Shouldn't He be against me? Shouldn't He at least be neutral? Or distant? Shouldn't He be watching me fight my own battles and losing and muse to His perfect self, "If only she hadn't rebelled..."?
But He is "for" me.
"What, then, shall we say in response to this? 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 is he that condemns? 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?" [Romans 8.31-35]God gave up His Son for me, holding nothing back. He offers to me, graciously, every good thing in that Son. God is my justifier, defending me against the (accurate and well-documented) accusations of the enemy. He stands on my side of the courtroom and defends me against the penalty of the crime I committed against Him to His very face. The very One, the only One, with the power to condemn me for my manifest rebellion stands as my Intercessor, His own blood shed for my sake. And no matter where I am, His love is there with me. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate me from the love of Christ.
He is "for" me!
Grace really is amazing.
4 comments:
Amen! Thank you for reminding me of that.
Kessia,
For one, I think your name is cool, and two, I think your cool. Especially for not really knowing you, but I'm fascinated with random blog only acquaintances.
"no matter where I am, His love is there with me"
His love is there! thats awesome. Keep being awesome yourself
That was weird at first because I was trying to figure out why that quote was so familiar. :) But yeah, it is so amazing to remember how awesome God's grace is. Thanks for exploring that thought more. I love how God and His love are inexhaustible subjects to think about.
Knowing that God is for me makes me feel like asking him why. Because at times there is no one for us. And when I feel alone and burdened by my sins I try to have others carry it.... but it's impossible. The power that comes from reading a simple verse is so encouraging. Because He can fix it and he wants us to know that he loves us. But it's so hard to believe that. I don't know if I completely believe that.
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