The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:28-30 (day seven)

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son. Romans 8:29 

We tend to not like tension. It makes us uncomfortable. We view it as two opposites that are rubbing against one another, so we often try to avoid tension at all costs. In reality, or at least scientifically speaking, what we are attributing to tension is actually friction. Tension is two forces pulling against one another removing the slack that once lay between them. Tension straightens the line. When we feel tension in scripture, we should not run from it or glance over it because we are uncomfortable, rather, we should look at the the things which are causing the tension to figure out what it is that is being straightened out.

Here, many people will read the word predestined and attribute it to a certain line of thought. This may cause them to skip over the passage or jump to conclusions on what that word might mean, but if we let the tension pull us a little, we will look to see what is pulling on the other end. That would be a choice. That choice is to be conformed daily to renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). Conformity and foreknowledge are creating a tension that we may not fully understand, but we recognize that the presence of both are essential to our sanctification. That is a tension we can live in.

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:28-30 (day six).

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

God is all in. No one is more invested in your life than he is. He is so committed to you that he is working in and through “everything.” No matter the circumstance, heartache, or disappointment, he alone is working things out for your good. Even when you can’t see it or feel it, you can be certain he is working.

Like Joseph, you can declare, “What was meant for evil, God meant for good.” (Gen. 50:20) This good is as certain as Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. You can bet your life on it.

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:28-30 (day five).

Our Re:verse text gives an answer to this question, “What on earth is God up to?” Literally, God is using all the things we see, sense, and experience to do something grand and glorious in the hearts and lives of those who love Him. All of life on earth is designed and purposed by God to influence and affect those that love Him for a very specific goal- making them (“those” in the text) more and more like Jesus. God creates us in His image (Genesis 1:26) and then uses our (those that love God)  lives and circumstances on earth to continue that work for the same purpose- making us like Christ/Him (Colossians 1:15).  Take heart, this just doesn’t happen by chance. No, the great comfort and truth is that God is “working” (Does that ease your mind and heart?) for this profound and transforming purpose for us (good) and for Him (glory).

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:28-30 (day four)

I’ve been studying 2 Corinthians chapters 3 & 4 today and now I’m connecting it to Romans 8:30, “and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified”, and I’m reminded of our glorious purpose. We have this wonderful ministry of displaying the glory of Christ to the world.

There’s an amazing transformation in our Christian journey where “we behold the glory of God with unveiled face” and we are increasingly glorified and changed into the image of Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18). During this process, the Imago Dei inside us becomes completely clear and visible for all to see. The passage in 2 Cor. chapter 4 calls it, “the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (v4)” which is shining into our hearts and gives us “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (v6).”

We are meant to reflect the glory of Christ Jesus. If we aren’t doing that, then we must repent and rely upon the Father God’s providence and control, be still and know He is God, listen for His voice, pray for Him to confirm our calling and election, return to the cross to be assured of Jesus’ blood for justification, and He will complete the work of glorification in our lives. Keep shining church! Remember your purpose!

Happy Independence Day!

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:28-30 (day two)

 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Vs 28

It is midnight in Northern Ireland as I write this blog, and the Youth Worship team has just finished an incredible day of ministry. As I sat down to write this blog, I re-read the passage and after our day today it struck me quite differently. All things worked today, and nothing did. All of the plans that we have made over the past several months were meticulous, and nothing went according to them today. We did, however, have more ministry opportunities than I could have imagined. Although the schedule was turned upside down, God orchestrated every moment for his glory. We prayed, shared testimony, sang, and shared more than we thought possible, simply because we were willing to let him interrupt or plans, and recognize his were so much bigger and better. God’s perfect plan is always the best. Our prayer should be to surrender everything to his great call on our lives. Thanks for loving these kids, and allowing them to minister at home, and across the world.

Re:Verse passage – 1 John 4:19–21 (day seven) 

One of the things I have noticed in our time here in Europe with the First Youth Worship, is that America is not the only country that is polarized. The tension that we are feeling and the issues we are facing in the United State are prevalent around the globe also. Why is that? Why are we so divided? You may be able to draw some conclusions that may attribute to the tension such as social media or cable news, but the short answer is that we are more divided than ever because the devil wants us to be.

We as christians need to be the peacemakers in the world to fight against the enemy’s division. We need unity. I get that it can be difficult in a time where a tribe may cancel you if you do not agree with their particular set of beliefs, but this passage sets the standard for us and sets the example for which we Christians should be striving: to love our brother. We cannot say we love God if we hold hatred or disdain for those who do not think the way that we think. We are called to love. Love your brother (love your neighbor) even when you don’t agree!

Re:Verse passage – 1 John 4:19–21 (day six) 

Loving others is our superpower. We are never more like God than when we love. It’s why John writes, “No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” In other words, when we love like God loves, God reveals himself to others through us. And that is a pretty powerful and cool superpower!

Scott is absolutely right. “What if people see our love for each other, and that leads them to discover and understand God’s love for them (Friday’s blog)?” As image bearers, we were always intended to reflect God’s love (sin messed that up), so when we do, it has a superhuman way of lifting others’ eyes and ears up to see and hear God.

Flex your superpower today!

Re:Verse passage – 1 John 4:19–21 (day five) “for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”

For decades, as a Youth Pastor, I would encourage students to take a few minutes during most every gathering time and give out “Holy Hugs”. For some students who were newer to the group (Christians and non-Christians) I could see how unique and captivating this time was. But I also saw in their eyes, an amazement and curiosity about how fellow teenagers not only had genuine love for one another, but also were willing to visually and verbally express it.  Those hugs, handshakes, and words of encouragement we exchange with other believers are indeed “holy because they reflect the love of God. What if people  see our love for each other and that leads them to discover and understand God’s love for them (the gospel). I’ve seen that happen many times. What if people conclude “the one who loves his brother that he has seen, must love and be loved by God who he has not seen.” Let’s love each other well, and may that love lead others to find the love and life that Christ came to give.

Re:Verse passage – 1 John 4:19–21 (day four)

“God is love” is a phrase that gets a variety of responses from people. I’ve heard many respond to this sentence with “yes, but…”

In an attempt to make sure our view of God doesn’t devolve into a mushy Valentine’s Day-like sentiment, we want to say, “Yes, God is love, but he is also holy, just, judge, king.” Fill in your word of choice. But when we do this, I think it reveals that we’re using the wrong definition of love. We’re using an earthly definition of love to try to understand something that’s divine. It’s only natural for us to try to use earthly frameworks to define heavenly concepts, but our earthly view of love is limited.

What if instead, when we hear the phrase “God is love,” we consider that phrase in a new framework, “Whatever God is – that’s what love is.” Now, love isn’t just a nice sentiment or or a particular emotion. It’s certainly not fluffy or shallow. Now, love is defined by all that God is – just, holy, merciful, sacrificial, fierce, powerful. This list goes on. How might this change the way we think about loving our neighbor?