|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Easter was last weekend.
The question must be asked, “Did I miss writing an Easter Interruption?” Confession: Yes and no. Yes, I missed writing one on Easter weekend, and no, I didn’t miss writing one.
Here it is.
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you (Romans 8:11, NLT).
Romans 8 is a chapter of many promises based on the resurrection of Jesus. If Jesus came forth from the grave, then everything is possible. If the same Spirit which raised Jesus from the grave dwells in us, then…
Miracles, healings, and freedom beyond our imagination aren’t just possible but should be expected!
And manifesting daily.
I’ve been fascinated for decades that the implications of the Greek word “salvation” means more than “going to heaven” as it implies total healing of body, soul, and spirit. The power that dwells within us saves from death, and gives healing both physically and psychologically.
This healing, according to Romans 8, intertwines with suffering.
Paul explains in verse 17:
And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
We follow the example of Christ.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? (Romans 8:31-32)
Just as God gave Christ everything, we can expect the same mixture of glory and difficulty in our lives also.
As followers, we walk in suffering and healing but through disappointment, our faith for miracles grows. This is the spiritual anomaly found in Romans 8.
Great victory and great suffering, all in the context of two amazing promises:
Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later (Romans 8:18).
And…
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28).
A resurrected body is history’s game changer. First, all things are possible and should also be expected. Second, we proclaim our hope by faith not by sight.
We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) (Romans 8:24-25)
Salvation isn’t easy. It cost God His Son. Yes, we will experience trials, but through difficulty our hope grows for even bigger miracles.
(And all of us hope that I don’t miss Easter weekend with an Interruption next year.)