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June 10 Daily Devotional

If God Be for Us...

Frans Bakker

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? —Romans 8:31

Bible Reading

Romans 8:28–32

Devotional

Often in life we concern ourselves with whether people are for us or against us. It is, after all, not pleasant to have enemies. We can pretend that it does not bother us whether our neighbor is friendly to us or at enmity with us, but at the heart of the matter, we still prefer to be in the midst of those who are for us instead of those who are against us.

But greater still, we ought to concern ourselves with whether God is for us or against us. If people treat us with love and kindness, if people cleave to us, and praise us, all is still to no avail if God is against us. To have people against you is to have much against you. But to have God against you is to have everything against you. For, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Does this mean that everything goes as expected in our lives? If God is for us, does that mean that we will now only pick roses, without ever being pricked by the thorns? If God is for us, does that mean that no one will give us a hard time? Does having God on our side mean that all of life is smooth and goes according to our desires? If that would be the case, there would be few people who, with all their strength, would not try to have the God of heaven be for them. Who would not seek God if all He gives is a life of honor and pleasure?

God is for us; nobody is against us; we lead a pleasant life. Is that what the Christian life is all about? The writer of the epistle to the Romans found out differently. Although God was for him, cruel hands still cast him into prison. He was tortured and mocked.

The church of Rome, to whom Paul wrote his letter, was daily being marginalized and despised. They were in grave danger of persecution and of being tortured to death. It was precisely then, under those circumstances, that Paul wrote, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Carnal man cannot understand this irony. There is a paradox in this matter which can only be understood by spiritually minded people. How can God be for us and yet allow suffering?

Paul is still right. It is true that if God is for us no one or nothing can be against us. Even if Satan’s angels beat with fists, and animosity burns in the heart of persecutors, it is still well with God’s children, because God is for them. Those who have God on their side have all they need. Even though thorns and tribulations come our way, God draws His children close to Himself. Satan smites; he beats with his fists to destroy, but he works contrary to his own purpose. He smites God’s people closer to the Lord. Even though the enemy scourges, God works all things together for good to them that love God. The enemies work in favor of those who are saved. “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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