Romans 8:12-25 (NRSV)
Read Romans 8:12-25 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh- Verse 13for 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. Verse 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Verse 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" Verse 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Verse 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Verse 18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. Verse 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; Verse 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope Verse 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Verse 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; Verse 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Verse 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? Verse 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Devotion
“When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if in fact we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”
God the Holy Spirit does more than comfort us; through our baptism into Christ, God adopts us and makes us God’s own children. Although we will continue to experience suffering and still bear crosses, endure grief, and face hardship in a broken world, our suffering is not a sign that God has abandoned us. Our present troubles will not have the final word. The glory God has prepared for his children is far greater than all we now endure. Therefore, we do not lose heart. The Spirit keeps pointing us to Christ, where our true comfort, hope, and inheritance remain secure.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for making us your children through Christ. When suffering comes, keep us from despair and fix our eyes on the glory you have promised. By your Holy Spirit strengthen our faith and teach us to trust that our inheritance is secure in Jesus. Amen.
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