"Our God is Relational"
Romans 8:26-39
Romans 8:26 Similarly, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don’t know how to pray the way we should. But the Spirit himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words; 27 and the one who searches hearts knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking, because his pleadings for God’s people accord with God’s will. 28 Furthermore, we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose; 29 because those whom he knew in advance, he also determined in advance would be conformed to the pattern of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers; 30 and those whom he thus determined in advance, he also called; and those whom he called, he also caused to be considered righteous; and those whom he caused to be considered righteous he also glorified!31 What, then, are we to say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare even his own Son, but gave him up on behalf of us all — is it possible that, having given us his Son, he would not give us everything else too? 33 So who will bring a charge against God’s chosen people? Certainly not God — he is the one who causes them to be considered righteous! 34 Who punishes them? Certainly not the Messiah Yeshua, who died and — more than that — has been raised, is at the right hand of God and is actually pleading on our behalf! 35 Who will separate us from the love of the Messiah? Trouble? Hardship? Persecution? Hunger? Poverty? Danger? War? 36 As the Tanakh puts it,
“For your sake we are being put to death all day long,
we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.”[Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:23(22)]
37 No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, 39 neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord. (Complete Jewish Bible).
This week has been a week of reflection.
Remembering the times walking on the beach sharing stories together.
With marriage we begin with passionate love leading to companion love.
What does relationship really mean?
Building relationships take time and effort.
Gos's relationship with tge Israelites.
Jesus did thibgs in relationship, not alone.
The disciples were first students, failed, Jesus called them to be His disciples.
This passage in Romans 8 is relationship passage.
A quote by C.S. Lewus from "Mere Christianity".
Coming to Jesus, He moves in and we realize we need change.
Paul is convinced that salvation is for this life.
In some in the Jewish tradition some believe therd is no life after death, but otherd do.
In Paul's day, one in 200 are Christians, while today in the United States there is 1 out of 3 who are Christian.
The early church fathers, mostly wrote on waiting. Today, Christian writings are mostly on evangelism.
God comes to us to say He wants to be with us to allow us to get to know Him.
When we want to be in relationship with someone, we will do anything to build relationship with someone. God wants this kind of relationship with us which he will do anything to build relationship with us.
A quote from James E. Faust.
True love has what to do what I want to please others.
What we learn from a relational God:
1. Learn to practice patience. Psalm 42:9.
2. Learn to work for hope.
God has Wisdom and He gives us hope.
3. Learn to practice unity. God has called us to be together because we are not solo Christians.
4. Learn to Work for peace. Peace us not absence of violence, but peace is the opposite violence. Our job is yo Imitate God.
5. Learn to pray. Pray is a two way conversation with God in listening and speaking. Prayer is how we can see what God is doing. Always remember God loves us and has hope.
Think about this Marcus Borg:
God loves us already and has from our very beginning. The Christian life is not about believing or doing what we need to believe or do so that we can be saved. Rather, it's about seeing what is already true that God loves us already and then beginning to live in this relationship. It is about becoming conscious of and intentional about a deepening relationship with God. (Marcus Borg).
God saves us from what will destroys us.
Prayer Beneduction Sending Forth.
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