Conquer

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-38

We can conquer all that life brings. With God, we can overcome everything and anything. I think today's sermon at church was an extraordinary reminder to Christians. Life seems like a long time, averaging at about 80 years, 80 years of constant failure, trails, struggles, deaths, celebrations, obstacles, and pains, it seems like a long time. And I know for myself personally, its frustrating when you're struggling with pain and sin for so long, and you cannot win. Its difficult, and like they said in the sermon, giving up, and giving in are so extremely easy. To give in, do what you want, when you want, and how you want. Falling into the world's standards are simple and quick, but thats what Christianity is about, fighting the good fight. Can you fight against giving in, taking the hard but better road? Thats the real test.

In the passage, it says that IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US. God has conquered over all already, and like in v 38-39, he's conquered Satan, death, everything in heaven, on earth and under the earth (Phil 2:9-11). Its always something that goes un-noticed is that in that passage, it says "under the earth". That just goes to show that God is powerful and victorious over everything in Hell, including the devil himself.

As human beings, it is very common and natural to have pride, to feel and want to be the best, and i know i myself has thought so many times "im better than him", "i dont do this, so she's clearly worse than me", but no, who am i to judge? IT IS GOD WHO JUSTIFIES. We are all equal in God's eyes, we have all fallen short of God's glory, no one has fallen MORE or LESS short His glory. We are all sinners equally and equally need God's saving.

NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME. God has already taken care of our future as well. Nothing that is happening to us NOW or LATER will separate us. As people, we love having control, of our lives, of our future. There are many things we want our way, it can be simple things like having the title of each note we take underlined, to bigger things like who we want to marry, what our family is to look like, but there are things that are out of our control. From the people you meet, to what university you get into. But trust in God. Do you have confidence in God that he will bring great things for you?

Verses 38-39, also talks about our identity. That at the bottom, within us, what truly defines us, is the love of God. As Christ followers we often "label" ourselves incorrectly. Yes, we are students, employees, husbands, wives, teachers, doctors, fathers, mothers, but before all of that, we are Christians, we are children of God. "I am a Child of God that is a brother, and student", not "im a brother, student, and also a Child of God." It is God's love that defines us.

We are continuously frustrated with the struggles we face daily, great or small, but God loves usand he has conquered way more than we have experienced. There are times that we want to give up, and just say game over, but remind yourself that nothing will separate you from God, no matter the challenges, and the difficulties, you can overcome it, and that God has greater things planned for you.

seeing what we cannot.

I was totally under the category of what we talked about at church today. A person who lacks confidence, has little faith in Christ and is weak, not realizing His strength and His greater, different, mysterious and perfect ways.

¹³ Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
¹⁴ You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
¹⁵ You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

¹⁶ When the waters saw you, O God,
when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
indeed, the deep trembled.
¹⁷ The clouds poured out water;
the skies gave forth thunder;
your arrows flashed on every side.
¹⁸ The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lighted up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
¹⁹ Your way was through the sea,
your path through the great waters;
yet your footprints were unseen.

psalm 77:13-19

1. God is HOLY and his ways are higher/better/different than ours.

We're constantly wanting our way. We fail to give up power, and control of our own lives. We as humans are so scared of the unknown. We dont want to change, we dont want to surrender and let someone take the wheel of our lives. We also have pride in ourselves, we think we're better, we're stronger, we know whats best for us, but the truth is, we really dont. If you have time, reflect on the past few months, years, and see how God has pieced your life together in the most magical, mysterious ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).

2. God's work in the past tells of his work in THE PRESENT and THE FUTURE.

The big pointer here is KNOWING God's work in the past, and the only way to know that is be reading and indulging in the Word. It is the truth. Today our pastor said that should be reading off the word, in PHYSICAL, PRINT form, and im guilty of that. After getting my iphone i've been reading it electronically, and i think i need to change that and start getting back into the habit of reading his word in print. I think its better in many ways, electronically, there are distractions everywhere. But it is by reading his word that one will fully understand just a hint of how God works and see how great he is, for one to put faith into an almighty God.

3. God's work in our lives is MYSTERIOUS but PERFECT.

Our Pastor mentioned today in the passage (Psalms 77) that it talks about nature a lot, and he linked it with God's mysterious ways. Nature is very unpredictable, yet it always works out. If you study science, you start to learn about how crazy and amazing creation is. Although it extremely hard to let go and let God. Remember that his ways are always better. He's overlooking our lives, he's planning it, and he knows whats best and whats better than what you have in mind.

Lamentations 3:22-23

²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

²³ They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Kelly shared this verse on Sunday and its been my iphone wallpaper since. I never knew it said that in the Bible and i love how great of a reminder it is. Each new day, God has given us new mercy, and a new chance. This doesn't mean you can just mess up your day and sin because the next day is new, but it means that our God is a gracious, loving and forgiving God. If you realize and confess your sins, he will forgive. The past is the past, what matters is that you change in the present and you keep the momentum going for the future.

I think we ought to remind ourselves daily of this, that God is good and that his love for us is eternal and overflowing. Praise God!