Post by Betty on Mar 9, 2005 9:49:40 GMT -5
The Question Of Protection
By Max Lucado
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom
8:31 NIV).
The question is not simply, "Who can be against
us?" You could answer that one. Who is against
you? Disease, inflation, corruption, exhaustion.
Calamities confront, and fears imprison. Were Paul's
question, "Who can be against us?" we could list
our foes much easier than we could fight them.
But that is not the question. The question is, if
God is for us, who can be against us?
Indulge me for a moment. Four words in this verse
deserve your attention. Read slowly the phrase,
"God is for us." Please pause for a minute before
you continue. Read it again, aloud. (My apologies
to the person next to you.) God is for us. Repeat
the phrase four times, this time emphasizing each
word. (Come on, you're not in that big of a
hurry.)
GOD is for us.
God IS for us.
God is FOR us.
God is for US.
GOD is for you. Your parents may have forgotten
you, your teachers may have neglected you, your
siblings may be ashamed of you; but within reach of
your prayers is the maker of the oceans. God!
God IS for you. Not "may be," not "has been," not
"was," not "would be," but "God is!" He IS for
you. Today. At this hour. At this minute. No need
to wait in line or come back tomorrow. He is with
you. He could not be closer than he is at this
second. His loyalty won't increase if you are
better nor lessen if you are worse. He IS for you.
God is FOR you. Turn to the sidelines; that's God
cheering your run. Look past the finish line;
that's God applauding your steps. Listen for him in
the bleachers, shouting your name. Too tired to
continue? He'll carry you. Too discouraged to
fight? He's picking you up. God is FOR you.
God is for YOU. If he had he a calendar, your
birthday would be circled. If he drove a car, your
name would be on his bumper. If there's a tree in
heaven, he's carved your name in the bark. We
know he has a tattoo, and we know what it says. "I
have written your name on my hand," he declares
(Isa. 49:16).
God is with you. Knowing that, who is against
you? Can death harm you now? Can disease rob your
life? Can your purpose be taken or your value
diminished? No. Though hell itself may set itself
against you, no one can defeat you. You are
protected. God is with you.
By Max Lucado
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom
8:31 NIV).
The question is not simply, "Who can be against
us?" You could answer that one. Who is against
you? Disease, inflation, corruption, exhaustion.
Calamities confront, and fears imprison. Were Paul's
question, "Who can be against us?" we could list
our foes much easier than we could fight them.
But that is not the question. The question is, if
God is for us, who can be against us?
Indulge me for a moment. Four words in this verse
deserve your attention. Read slowly the phrase,
"God is for us." Please pause for a minute before
you continue. Read it again, aloud. (My apologies
to the person next to you.) God is for us. Repeat
the phrase four times, this time emphasizing each
word. (Come on, you're not in that big of a
hurry.)
GOD is for us.
God IS for us.
God is FOR us.
God is for US.
GOD is for you. Your parents may have forgotten
you, your teachers may have neglected you, your
siblings may be ashamed of you; but within reach of
your prayers is the maker of the oceans. God!
God IS for you. Not "may be," not "has been," not
"was," not "would be," but "God is!" He IS for
you. Today. At this hour. At this minute. No need
to wait in line or come back tomorrow. He is with
you. He could not be closer than he is at this
second. His loyalty won't increase if you are
better nor lessen if you are worse. He IS for you.
God is FOR you. Turn to the sidelines; that's God
cheering your run. Look past the finish line;
that's God applauding your steps. Listen for him in
the bleachers, shouting your name. Too tired to
continue? He'll carry you. Too discouraged to
fight? He's picking you up. God is FOR you.
God is for YOU. If he had he a calendar, your
birthday would be circled. If he drove a car, your
name would be on his bumper. If there's a tree in
heaven, he's carved your name in the bark. We
know he has a tattoo, and we know what it says. "I
have written your name on my hand," he declares
(Isa. 49:16).
God is with you. Knowing that, who is against
you? Can death harm you now? Can disease rob your
life? Can your purpose be taken or your value
diminished? No. Though hell itself may set itself
against you, no one can defeat you. You are
protected. God is with you.
