Dr. Rick Mandl - January 11, 2021
God Is For Us
Devotional Manuscript: God Is For Us
Message By: Dr. Rick Mandl, January 11, 2021, Eagle Rock Baptist Church
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
Hey church family. I’ve got one verse of scripture for you today. And to focus it even more specifically - - four words within that one verse. That one verse is Romans 8:31 which says, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” And the four words I want to ask you to focus on are . . . God is for us. God is for us. God is on our side. God wants what is best for us in all things. God will never leave us or forsake us.
Sometimes it’s easy to believe those words. What about the times when it’s not? What about the times when it seems like God is far away? How can we learn to hold on to this truth when it doesn’t feel true? One thing that’s important to realize is that those four words – God is for us – are the response to a question posed by the Apostle Paul at the beginning of the verse. Romans 8:31 asks, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things?” The answer Paul gives, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
I believe the key to knowing that God is for us, no matter the circumstances or feelings we face, is found within the phrase, “these things.” What “things” is Paul referring to that should automatically elicit the response, “God is for us?”
To answer this question, we must look at what Paul had previously written in Romans 8. He has told us (verse 1), that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus He has told us (verse 2), that we have been set free from the law of sin and death. He has told us (verse 14), that those led by the Spirit are children of God. He has told us (verse 15), that we have been given the Spirit of adoption. He has told us (verse 17), that we are co-heirs with Christ. He has told us (verse 26), the Spirit Himself intercedes for us. He has told us (verse 28), in all things God works for the good of those who love Him. He told us in verse (verse 29) we have been predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Then he asks the question: In light of all of these things that God has done, what should we say in response? Is there any other conclusion we could come to apart from the conclusion that God is for us? And if God is for us, who could be against us? So the next time you don’t feel like God is for you, let me encourage you to read through Romans chapter 8 and be reminded of all of “these things” He has done to demonstrate His love and faithfulness. Whatever we face in this life is temporary, but His gifts are eternal. This is all the reason we need to believe that God is for us – Amen!
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
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