Romans 8:31 (NLT2)
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Our list of other people’s perceived shortcomings can sometimes be harsh and unforgiving, they may include things like poverty, education, physically or mentally challenges, how they look, dress and sound, or ethnic differences. It even considers the foolish mistakes they made years ago.
Ask yourself, would you like to be measured with that yardstick? Didn’t think so! When the younger Adam Clarke’s father, one of England’s most prolific eighteenth-century preachers, told Adam’s teacher that he didn’t think his son would do well in school, the teacher’s reply; ‘He looks very bright to me.’ Adam heard those words – and they changed his life by letting him out of the box his father put him in. Clarke lived to be 72, became a famous Methodist minister, and gave the world one of its greatest Bible commentaries.
If God be for you, who can stand against you, God will always be bigger, better, mightier, stronger, and powerful than anyone and anything on the earth or in heaven that may come against you.
People will judge and measure you based on their perception and expectations not necessarily because of what you’ve done, said or look but just because they can.
Our text, one of the most encouraging Bible verses we see in the scriptures says, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Persecution is a very real problem for Christians all over the world, even people will come against us.
In his family’s eyes, David would never be more than a shepherd,1 Samuel 16:11-12, but in God’s eyes, he was Israel’s next king. It’s amazing how people categorise us the moment we’re born. Somebody says you ‘look exactly like so-and-so’ or convinces you that you’re ‘just an average student’, or a ‘plain Jane’. And before you know it, you start believing their assessments and opinions. Some people considered Timothy too young to be a leader. That’s why Paul wrote and told him, not to allow anyone to look down on him because of his youthfulness in 1 Timothy 4:12.
Paul explains that our current sufferings pale in comparison to the coming glory. The Spirit of God will be with us to help us through anything that comes against us, and God works all things for good says Romans 8:29-30, encouraging us with our text verse saying in response to these things, If God is for us, who can be against us?
Who can be against us? No one!
Sure, we can be persecuted and hurt, but eternally we will live and bask in the Glory of Christ forever. This verse gives us hope, not that we will always prevail, but that our eternal destiny and the love of God are secure. Though we may suffer, we will not be destroyed. No matter how bad things seem, we must remember that “God is for us.
So, get rid of your labels and life-limiting thoughts, and trust God. When God is in your corner, you can rise to the top like cream! Matthew 10:28, We will never be defeated eternally. God is the only one who can destroy us eternally and praise His name that He is for and not against us. (Extract from “the spirit of prayer )
Shalom