Called, Justified, Glorified
.
Romans 8:28-35
28. We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. 29. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. 30. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? 32. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? 33. Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies; 34. who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us? 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language defines justified: to free (a human) of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin. Used of God; and glorified: to cause to be or seem more glorious or excellent than is actually the case. The very fact that God “arranged” for our justification and glorification proves verse 28! The questions in this passage are really rhetorical. Because of God--and only because of God--we are pure and holy and blameless. With God. Embraced by Him. Wooed by Him.
Yes, he loves us enough to woo us! He is madly, desperately in love with us! After all he made us to be like him! To prove to us how very much he loves us, he sent his son to pay the price for every sin ever committed or ever to be committed in the future. He allowed his son/himself to be tortured and killed. And then to show us that we may have hope, that he has already laid in place plans for our future with him, Jesus rose on the third day!
“If God is for us” really means
since God is for us. Since God is for us, there is no reason to fear any human threat or earthly trial. We may struggle, and even suffer, but God will be with us through it, and will also be waiting for us “on the other side” when we are purified and refined -- new creatures because of Christ. Isn’t it comforting to know that even in our darkest times, even in our deepest sorrow, even in our most challenging struggles, we have God uplifting, encouraging, supporting us -- and loving us through it all.
Also, though, we must be careful how we perceive others. My tendency has often been to make a judgment or an assumption about someone or their behavior based strictly on how I was personally impacted. I am growing - ever so painfully slowly - to “give the other guy a break!” In other words -- we all have “baggage,” we all have struggles and challenges, we all have things to deal with in our lives and sometimes we are not the kind of person we would like to be. What I try to remember now, is that “it’s not about me!” And if someone has disappointed me or let me down in some way, I try to figure out what may be going on in their lives -- and so pray for them and their struggle.
I’m not as successful or diligent in that capacity as I would like to be. It does help, though, to work with individuals who are much more so!
My prayer today is that will view others as if you were in their shoes. And that if you are disappointed, it will be in your inability to “heal” another, rather than in how harshly you judged them.
Mary
