18I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. 19In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. 20Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope 21that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. 22We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth.
23The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. 24And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. 25However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it. 26In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. 27All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God's people. 28We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, 29and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children. 30God then accepted the people he had already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them.
We hear about couples who have been together so long they can finish each other's sentences. They almost can read each other's thoughts. That can be good...but can also be intimidating!
It's the same way with the God who created us...whether we like it or not. Paul says "All of our thoughts are known to God". As people of faith we have His Spirit living within us. That is far more intimate than living "with " somebody. So it can also be far more intimidating. Imagine the Holy Spirit inhabiting our spirits. Before we can even think something, the Holy Spirit is privy to the thought.
I should be more careful...
While true, that's not the real point here. the real point is that God's Spirit is as constant source of comfort. For example, "when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words". Also, "The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future". If that can't lift out spirits we need an attitude check...
We will probably always have a level of discomfort with this degree of intimacy. Our human spirits don't like it. We like our privacy so we can sin unnoticed. In the case of God's Spirit, however, this discomfort is our friend. It is a reminder that we have some work to do in our personal lives. The most important thing to remember is we can't let this discomfort lead us to ignore the Spirit. Unfortunately, my many years of ministry convince me that most believers would rather "turn down the volume" than stop and listen when God's Spirit speaks. All this does is slow down the learning process and chip away at our joy. remember, real joy is not "doing whatever we please" but "doing whatever God pleases".
How joyful are we today?
Live boldly out there today...
No comments:
Post a Comment