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Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:30 In our struggles, we all fail repeatedly at something. For the addict though, those failures are usually more obvious, leading to much more spectacular destruction. He doesn’t just fail. He…
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And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 According to today’s passage, all things eventually work out for good for those who love God. Visiting jail, I’ve heard this passage misused to suggest that God would get…
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We do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 I was taught…
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Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. Romans 8:26 As a physician, it can be frustrating when a patient comes in, asking for help with some malady, and then completely ignores all instruction. Maybe the patient won’t take his medication as prescribed, or perhaps he just wanted a pill and isn’t willing to make…
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For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18 I wrote yesterday of how we can find comfort and peace in our heavenly father, despite our trials, struggles and fears. I’m always hesitant to write of such things,…
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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!” Romans 8:15 When I was maybe four or five years old, we were at my grandparent’s farm, when my brother and I climbed on top…
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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. Romans 8:13 I’m clearly biased by my personal experience, but I see drug addiction as a nearly perfect example of our universal struggle with our own nature. We…
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Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. Romans 8:8-9 Will I ever get sober? Am I destined to…
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For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6 I don’t enjoy horror movies, but still, I’ve seen enough zombie movies to understand the genre. In most zombie films, there’s usually some contagion that turns nice, normal people into mindless,…
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For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5 We all long for the shortcut to success. Whether it’s weight loss or financial reward, we don’t want to…
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