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Romans 8:22-35 - Struggle and Emerge - Persevere         Never confuse worldly gain or success with a special favor from God or lack thereof with his disdain or disapproval. It does not work that way. Just because we have adversity, long odds, hunger, trouble, enemies, calamity, and persecution does not mean we do not have God’s love and blessing. Maybe you are threatened today. Or challenged. Or tired of a micromanaging boss or a child that stubbornly refuses to work hard and make a good decision. That does not mean God no longer loves us.         Our hope, our future, is in Jesus Christ. We groan now with aging bodies but look forward to the judgment day - when God will give us full rights as his adopted children - including our new bodies.         First, you believe Jesus is your Rescuer - the Messiah, our Savior from this evil world. You are born again, made new, and saved at that moment. You are indwelled with the Spirit of Christ. I thank God that you are eternally protected. And that I am saved. May many more come to Jesus.         For those who love God and believe in Him, for those called according to his purposes, He causes everything to work together for our good. It may not seem like it - but that is what the Bible tells us, and we trust that we will understand God’s plan and purpose one day. I don’t need to know now. I couldn’t comprehend if the whole picture was presented to me.         Thank you, Abba Father - the Giver of all good things.         God’s chosen people are believers in Jesus Christ. God’s plan from the betting was to lift Jesus up as a sacrifice for each human’s sin. God loves you. He calls you to come to Him to be forgiven of your sins. God saves you if you believe God can raise a man from death and create something out of nothing. You have faith, like Abraham. You are now righteous - right standing with God. Thank God that Jesus pleads for us - we need it. He alone can save us, for we deserve a different end than the one He promises us. We are now friends with the Giver of all good things - the Living God.         Be afraid of no man, no government, no employer, and no spiritual obstacle. God is our protector, our judge, our master, and our trusted friend. God gives righteousness; no one else can. He requires a man to believe in His Son for righteousness. It’s God’s way of faith. It is how God chooses how a person is righteous. Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us; He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us to have faith and to follow His will. Fear not. Trust God. Hope in God’s promises. Be confident in how much Jesus loves you and is pleading for you at this very moment.         I need you today Lord Jesus. My hope is in you. Amen.

Downtown Lynchburg, VA


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