Romans 8:11-25
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry,
“Abba! Father!”
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children,
then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved.
Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
If
Patience.
The first part of this passage is a question. The lasting word is Patience. We had a friend we always admired in High School and in College. We all looked to Matt. One day, one of us said, "Matt is like the Father in My 3 Sons." And it brought me to being misty - this was very true. Matt taught me an important lesson in High School: Matt began to pray for Patience. And frankly, Matt taught me in this year not to pray for Patience. Father God must have smiled, because suddenly in High School and the season lasted to his freshman year in College - Father God gave Matt the opportunity for the Patience Solution.
You know,
Galatians 5, includes all of the positive of the Fruit of the Spirit - filling us with the fullness of God. And the signs of deep need for God's Nurture and Love.
So I told Matt (who became a Priest all his life) about what I thought about Patience. Matt expressed a reluctant understanding of what I was saying.
Patience.
Why ask for your car to break down and have to run 40 miles to your spouse in the Emergency Room? Why ask to climb 80 floors to work to make a meeting on time? Why ask to run Iron Man and train for two weeks? Now, what is the point? Patience is Life. You shouldn't take all of your problems and make them into a pineapple and eat them in one bite. Futility. When we really stress ourselves we are taking on too much. Things not in our control.
What would we pray for if not Patience?
Steadfast Love, the Joy Jesus said Life is. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
Peace - to believe God is in Charge.
And then we generate - Kindness. Really being even polite. Polite is the first step of kindness.
When we find Love, Joy and Peace we are going to find patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Love covers a multitude of sins. God carries the universe with His Word. We cannot manage all things - even knowing what we could manage could fry us. Let the burdens of today be the concerns of the day. The Lord's Prayer is astonishing. Our Father 'in Heaven' - why does Jesus identify the Trinity of God as 'in Heaven'? Because Jesus is reminding us God is "Abba" Daddy. Like (we hope) our own earthly fathers. Joseph was taken to Father God before Jesus risked His earthly neck every day and was taunted by the people who could have supported him. Father God returned good Joseph to Himself - to not make Jesus' ministry beyond Joseph's endurance of - - - patience. One Father to the trusted father. God is good all the time.
Creation waits in eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
This remarkably memorable verse of the Scriptures - is very unusual and thought-provoking Scripture saying God knows His Plan and the Fulfillment thereof. Once again, the beauty of His Word conveys His Heart better than any narration.
Creation waits in eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
What did the Skies look like everywhere as Jesus found our lives here on earth Joy?
The Prodigal Son - the Verses I believe explain Life. God is the Author of Life. All things are created through God. Romans 8:11-25 explains another part of God's Word - who has been God's counselor and who has known the mind of God. Life is stressful and is subject to futility. Gratitude in our lives re-directed helps us to remain in God Himself. The Spirit of God searches to find the good in us and we coax ourselves to follow God Himself in our lives, minutes and moods. God is our foundation to stand upon. Jesus said He is our Rock and we Rise knowing He helps us stand firm.
We are often fathomless to explain the Mercy and Plan of God. The Favor of God's Mercy is Living Water. Flowing where the Will of the Holy Spirit fills the Purpose of God Himself. Nourishing. Soaking in ever minute particle. Flowing Living Water to redeem and replenish and restore. Life - God's own Plan. God of Love.
We will not know the Plan of God - intimately - until we walk with God in His Kingdom. Where we are all invited and will remain as Jesus will reveal. God would save the world in Jesus Christ. Why would we want to cut God's Love off? Why would we Limit Father God. His Storehouses of Love do not have an end. Why would we not Love Father God who has Loves so Lavish.
Abba, Father God,
Thank You for my blessings. Speak honestly. Be polite and kind. Speak honestly. Be a Blessings finder.
Think upon Your amazing capacity. Your Promises. Jesus You gave us.
Speak honestly. Be renewed in the Holy Spirit daily. Put aside what isn't uplifting. Speak honestly.
Realize anew - You are God of Your Word upholds the Universe. When I earnestly try to please You, You are Pleased. Very Pleased. You are God the Father, living us now, who would run to us coming Home. We will arrive at Your Home.
May the Blessings of God dawn in my mind, body, heart and soul again. May my thoughts and words be pleasing to You, my Rock and my Redeemer. God of Love. God of Encouragement. God our Father, we want to please.
May Your Great Love hold on to those I love. Bless, uplift and enfold us in You. There we Live.
Bless our thoughts and cares to Your Word and Your Creation - the Universe. You are God the Almighty, and in You, we know our Nation Trusting in You will be blessed.
The Light of the World shine and bless the Nations trusting in You.
Your Light in all of mankind asking their Loving Father for more Heaven on earth, with hope because Jesus gave us Your Words. Your Love. Your Exact Natue.
And we look forward every day to living in Your Word, Love and Promises.
Jesus is GOD. Thank You for Your Son. Amen and Amen.
a
Capernaum, Jesus chose His ministry to begin here and to live here.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †