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They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. Romans 9:4 I’m quite sentimental, and so, I enjoy reminiscing about my kid’s childhood. I love looking back over photos and videos, being profoundly grateful for the time my wife and I…
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I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. Romans 9:3 We recently watched a superhero movie in which two of the main characters literally fought each other to see who would get to sacrifice their own lives to…
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If God is for us, who can be against us? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:31,37 I remember, as a kid, asking God to help my favorite football team win. As an adult and parent, I’ve let slip a prayer or…
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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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