The Wednesday Word ~ 25 October, 2023 A.D.

 

“US”

by D. G. Miles McKee
 

“If God be for us who can be against us?" -Romans 8:31 [KJV]

What a wonderful statement! But the question arises, who are those favoured people mentioned in our verse? Who exactly are the “US”? 

The Epistle to the Romans shows that the “US” are people who, 'having been justified by faith have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Romans 8:1).

Are you one of the “US”? Furthermore, the “US” are those who were once God’s enemies but now are reconciled to God by the death of His Son (Romans 5:10). Also, the “US” are the ones to whom the Spirit bears witness that they are the children of God (Romans 8:16).

Then again, the “US” are those who rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2). They can and do look forward to heavenly glory saying, "If God be for us, who can be against us?”

There can be no doubt that God is on the side of His redeemed, reconciled, and regenerated people. He is for us.  Painfully difficult things may happen to us, but God is for us. 

He is for us … consider this, He thought of us before we had any being.  He foreknew us and delighted in us before the foundation of the world. He saved us and called us neither because of our works nor according to any foreseen merit, wisdom, ability, or goodness in us.  Instead, He saved us because of and according to His own purpose and grace given us in Christ before the world began (see 2 Timothy 1:9).  God is for us. We are His blood-washed people.
  
Some years ago, a family moved from California to a Mid-Western State along with their two boys. The Mother was white and the Father was a dark-skinned Mexican Chicano.  When it came to skin colour, the boys took after their dad. 
 Unfortunately, their 13-year-old ran into a tremendous nest of White Supremacy at his new school. Because of the prejudice against blacks and Chicanos, that little chap began to suffer very unjust torment and persecution. He didn't understand it and came home weeping and beaten up because of his looks. His parents didn't know what to do so they contacted their old church asking them to pray for this situation. And the church prayed. A week or so later the family contacted the church and gave an update.  They described how one night the biggest kid in school appeared at their door and said that he was a Christian and that he knew they were Christians. He said that he had come to tell them that he had gone to every kid in school who had beaten up on the boy and told them that if they ever did anything like that again, they would answer to him.  He was a big tough lad called Mike. I can imagine this little boy going back to school, walking in Mike’s shadow with all his tormentors looking at him. He probably would be saying to himself, "If Mike is for me, who can be against me?"

God is for His people and that means you. You may be going through some difficult times, but God is for you.    He loves you. He chose, called, and predestined you to “be conformed to the image of' His Son” (Romans 8:30). By the way, we are not yet conformed to the image of Christ.  The fulfilment of that great purpose of mercy is yet future. It is when Christ comes again that He shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like unto His glorious body (Philippians 3:21). Moreover, when, He shall appear, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is (see 1 John 3:2-3). 

We are looking forward to the soon coming day when Jesus will split the clouds and return for us His loved ones.

“And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against.”
-by Colin Buchanon

And that's the Gospel Truth!