The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Friday, 2 January 2015 “If God is for us, who is against us?”Daily Scripture: Romans 8:12-14 So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!
15-17 This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!
18-21 That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.
31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Reflection Questions:
The apostle Paul tirelessly preached Jesus in settings where both the Roman Empire and much of the Hebrew religious leadership strongly opposed him. Like those who opposed Jesus, Paul’s foes often seemed overwhelmingly strong. But Paul, though he was not devoid of human emotions, refused to let fear govern his life or determine what he would do. In his letter to Christians in Rome, he stated his view clearly: “If God is for us, who is against us?”
• Paul, trained as a rabbi, drew heavily on the Old Testament. Psalm 68 said God is a father to the fatherless, and Paul said the Holy Spirit teaches us to address God as abba, the Aramaic word little children used to address their fathers. Did you have a warm, trusting bond with your father, or was your experience of a human father more hurtful and fearfilled? How does the invitation to relate to God as abba speak to your heart?
• Paul also contrasted a fear-filled spirit of slavery with the privilege we have of being adopted as God’s own children. What role, if any, has fear played in your spiritual life? Have you ever had times where you sought desperately to please God by “trying harder”? Soak deeply into your spirit the life-changing implications of Paul’s word: “If God is for us, who is against us?”
Prayer: Dear God, teach me how to trust your steadfast love more completely. Teach me, in my relationships with others and with you, how to better live free from fear, always confident that you are “for” me. Amen.
Insight from Darren Lippe
Darren Lippe helps facilitate Journey 101 “Loving God” classes, guides a 7th-grade Sunday school class, is a member of a small group & a men’s group, and serves on the Curriculum team.
Today’s passage prompted me to visit with Mr. Pawt, author of “What are the Odds? – A
Mathematical Study of Gaming, Gambling & Guessing.”
DL: Mr. Pawt, tell us a bit about your book.
Jack Pawt: Please, call me Jack. I’ve long been fascinated with the application of statistical analysis to see just how accurate odds makers/forecasters were in predicting the outcomes of sporting events, elections, weather, & so forth.
DL: Well, we know gaming is as old as human history; even Adam & Eve had their pair-of-dice.
Jack Pawt: Um. I also began to look at how the forecasters did when predicting the outcome of historical events as well. What I discovered was that typically the predictors were fairly accurate with one glaring exception: God. Every time they tried to predict the outcome with God involved they lost their proverbial shirts.
DL: You mean like David verses Goliath?
Jack Pawt: Well, that’s an obvious one. But God first got the attention of speculators when Moses was demanding the Pharaoh to free the Israelites from slavery – even the plagues made ESPN’s Top 10 list. (Egyptian Sands Pyramid Network.) When Pharaoh’s armies started to pursue the escaping Jewish families, the forecasters assumed the Egyptians would win the battle in a romp. But then God, through Moses, miraculously saves the Israelites with the parting of the Red Sea & then lets the waves come crashing down & destroying the Egyptian army. Records show that The Sands Casino got caught up in that wave.
Then there is the showdown between God’s prophet, Elijah, and the prophets of Baal. The stakes were so high in this battle that Baal’s prophets were 300-1 favorites over Elijah. Elijah’s trash talking during this epic upset is the stuff of legend. “Baallys” lost a bundle on that day.
Then we had Esther a princess who had to hide her Jewish heritage out of fear for her life. Somehow, this beautiful girl is able to stop the ultimate bureaucratic crony, Haman, from his evil plot to destroy her people. The Sahara Casino took a huge hit after they paid off their books.
DL: So God’s consistent ability to beat the odds made the forecasters avoid Him at all costs?
Jack Pawt: For a while, yes. But then we had the ultimate showdown some 2,000 years ago. The forces of evil went all in & looked to kill God’s one & only Son. They rushed a rigged legal process & had Him tried, convicted & sentenced to death in a matter of hours. They hung Him on a cross to die. Throughout that horrible Friday afternoon, the forecasters kept waiting for God to pull out yet another amazing comeback. Then God’s Son breathed His last. The forces of evil celebrated their victory. The speculators were stunned that God’s winning streak had come to an end.
DL: So they had to pay up?
Jack Pawt: No. Records show that this Friday afternoon was filled with bizarre occurrences like earthquakes, the sky darkening mid-day, & the Temple’s veil being torn in two. So they agreed to pay up first thing Monday morning.
DL: Then what?
Jack Pawt: Sunday came. The tomb was empty. The Son of God was alive. Death & Evil had been irrevocably trounced in the greatest comeback the world has ever & will ever see. Caesar’s Palace has never been the same, I tell you. God’s winning streak continued & continues to this day.
DL: Considering our Bible passage, what would you say to God’s followers today?
Jack Pawt: Look at the history. No one is foolish enough to lay odds against God after that Sunday morning. It has to be calming & reassuring to know that before the 4th quarter is over, before the 18th hole is played, before the final out in the 9th inning, & before the 10th frame is bowled, some how, some way, God will win. Book it.
DL: Thanks for your time. I know you rolled your eyes at the Adam & Eve quip, but I think you have to admit it was pretty funny.
Jack Pawt: (Smiling) Wanna bet?
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