October 22 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Romans 8:26-39:

²⁶Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
²⁷And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
³³Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
³⁴Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Devotional

"What shall we say to these things?" What things? The apostle has spoken of some of the deep things of God, things we cannot fully understand. He has given us a glimpse into the deep counsel of God unto our salvation. God has loved us from all eternity in Christ Jesus. He knew (foreknew) from all eternity whom He would save. Them that He foreknew, He predestinated (foreordained) to eternal life. "Whom he did predestinate, them he also called (by the preaching of the gospel): and whom he called, them he also justified (declared them righteous in Christ Jesus): and whom he justified, them he also glorified" (brought them to heavenly glory). In God's eternal plan it is all complete. We are already raised up with Christ, "and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." "What shall we say to these things?" Why, it is simply marvelous. We can only stand in awe and adore!

"If God be for us." Is God for us? He planned our salvation before we were born. "He that spared not his own Son, but de­livered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Can you still doubt that God is for us? Well, then, if He is for us, "who can be against us?" The psalmist says, "The Lord is on my side (Hebrew, for me); I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" Neither will we fear but believe and trust. "I am his and he is mine."

Prayer

O God, our Father, we pray Thee, have mercy on us. We so often dishonor Thee by our doubts and fears and plain unbelief. Surely Thou couldst not give us a greater proof of Thy love toward us than the delivering up of Thine own Son. That should melt our hard hearts to tears, and we should fall before Thee in contrition of heart and in prayer, praise and adoration. Our Father, we thank Thee for Thine unspeakable gift. Gracious­ly accept of us, and preserve us unto life eternal. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Rom. 8:29, 30; Eph. 2:6; Rom. 8:32; Ps. 118:6.

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