Romans 8:28-29 – Far More Life

If you have attended even a few weddings, you are probably familiar with “the love chapter” — First Corinthians 13. While we can all agree that “Love is patient, love is kind…” (I Corinthians 13:4) is helpful marriage advice, the chapter has a much broader application. The word translated “love” is “agape” in the original Greek; that is not romantic or friendship love, instead it is the unconditional love first demonstrated by Jesus. So the love chapter applies to all of us and provides instruction for experiencing far more life. It helps us understand how God puts His love toward us into action. And it provides a guide for our interactions with the people we want to love well.

There are many comforting and challenging thoughts in I Corinthians 13, but these phrases always stand out to me:

It always protects…Love never fails. (I Corinthians 13:7-8, NIV)

Every time I read or hear that I feel like Jesus is giving me a hug! I feel such warmth and peace, knowing I can count on these promises. Here are some of the thoughts these phrases bring to mind that offer me far more life.

God is completely trustworthy and all-powerful. No one else can make those claims. He is offering me all I need. I am wise to humbly and gratefully accept His love and protection! (Psalm 36:7)

When God says always, He means always! I never have to wonder if “this situation” is included in God’s promise. Every situation I will ever face falls under His umbrella of protection. (Psalm 73:23)

Protecting me does not mean He stops all bad things from happening. But it does mean He will not allow evil to overwhelm me — or any of His children. Everything in my life must pass through His filter; only those things that fit His good purpose for my life are allowed to occur. (2 Thessalonians 3:3, Romans 8:28-29)

Every commandment, instruction, and principle in the Bible was given in love to protect me. He knows they will minimize my pain and bring me far more life. His boundaries protect me from spiritual death, hardship, evil, and undue struggle. Following them is where I will find far more life. (Psalm 119:97-104)

He is a personal God who lives inside His children. The Holy Spirit offers me protection me from my own sin and foolishness. He has opened my spiritual eyes to discern right from wrong. And He has empowered me to overcome sinful choices, habits, and temptations. (Romans 5:8, Proverbs 12:15, I Corinthians 3:19)

I am called to lovingly protect others, too. I can protect them in my own heart and mind by believing the best rather than making negative assumptions about their motives or actions. I can protect them by not telling others about their mistakes, failures, and sins. I can protect them by speaking the truth in love in areas where they are unaware of the negative impact they are having on others. I can protect them from self-deprecation by helping them recognize how God views them. God wants me to share His love by actively protecting others. (John 13:35, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:2)

His love protects me from sinning against others. While I am not sinless, His unconditional love inside of me is stronger than defensiveness, anger, gossip, slander, unforgiveness, unfaithfulness, and other ungodly responses that sometimes rise up. I am not a slave to my impulses or selfishness. His love enables me to be like Him and genuinely care for others. Far more life asks, “How can I best love this person?” or “How would Jesus love them?” and puts that love into action. (John 15:12, Romans 6:13, I John 4:11)

God’s love for His children never fails. He is the perfect parent! I am so thankful I can count on God’s love for me. I can never do anything so terrible that He will withdraw from me. I will not get to the end of my life and learn I was not good enough to spend eternity with Him. Evil will never overcome His love. He is never too busy for me. He never misunderstands me. His love is always exactly what I need. And when it is also exactly what I want, I bask in far more life. (Isaiah 43:1-3, Romans 8:38-39, Lamentations 3:22)

Sisters,
How have you personally been protected by love?
When you read “Love always protects” what does that communicate to you about God? About how He wants you to love others?
Is it easy or hard for you to believe that God’s love never fails? If you feel He has failed you, talk to Him about it. Ask Him to help you see how He protected you or what His good purpose was for you. This can be very hard! You may want to ask a pastor or trusted Christian friend for help.
Thank God that His protection offers you far more life — then accept it!
-Shari

May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm! (Ephesians 1:3, AMPC)

In Christ, we have every spiritual BLESSING. What exactly is a blessing? Some dictionaries define it as God’s favor and protection. You have God’s approval and support. You are under God’s protection. This is far more life.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32, NIV)

No one is stronger, smarter, or richer than God. He alone can change the course of nature, history, or the cells in our body with a word (Psalm 33:6; Psalm 103:20; Psalm 107:20). His love for us prompts Him to freely give us all we need. But sometimes it seems that we are not blessed. We do not feel protected and favored. Far more life feels distant and unattainable.

At those times, we need the next key word: spiritual. In Christ, you have every SPIRITUAL blessing. It is easy to focus on our physical blessings, like health, possessions, and good circumstances. These definitely make life on earth more enjoyable and comfortable. But they are temporary. Spiritual blessings are eternal and far superior. They are described in these verses:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, (Romans 8:28-29a, NIV)

The biggest spiritual blessings we can receive are to know Jesus and be like Him. Know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Be like Him in character, beliefs, thoughts, words, and actions. Imagine what life would be like if we always had God’s perspective, God’s responses, and God’s character…that would be amazing! Our worry, fear, and frustration would be gone. Instead we would be filled with peace and hope as we clearly recognized God’s plan, presence, and power. Thankfully this is possible as the Holy Spirit works in us! We find spiritual blessing — far more life — by recognizing where we are not like Jesus, exposing our underlying beliefs, and exchanging them for His perspective. Good news: God promises to faithfully continue this process in us until we become like Christ at His return (Philippians 1:6-11; I John 3:2-3).

In Christ, you have EVERY spiritual blessing. Nothing is withheld from us. God gives His children every good thing:

The Lord God is our protector and glorious king. He blesses us with kindness and honor. The Lord freely gives every good thing to those who do what is right. (Psalm 84:11, ERV)

He freely gives every good thing. We can get stuck on the “do what is right” phrase and think our sin disqualifies us from receiving God’s blessing. But this verse was written under God’s old covenant that was dependent on following His law to earn His favor. People of that time did not have the Holy Spirit inside of them; they were separated from God by their sin. We now live under grace and have been declared right with God through Christ (Romans 5:1); even our sin does not separate us from Him (Romans 8:38-39). We have access to every spiritual blessing, including unlimited love, joy, peace, kindness, self-control, and more. In other words, we have access to far more life.

IN CHRIST, you have every spiritual blessing. In order to receive His blessing, we have to stay connected to Him. If we put our trust in other things — our own abilities, other people, food, pleasure, power, money, or anything else — we miss out on God’s best for us. At those times, we do not recognize or value the blessings He offers. In fact:

Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. (Jonah 2:8, NIV)

We get to choose the extent of blessing in our life by choosing the object of our faith and devotion. When people are our primary source of wisdom and comfort, we forfeit far more life. When we turn to food for comfort, we forfeit far more life. When pleasure, power, or money are our primary motivators, we forfeit far more life. When we make Jesus our best friend, primary comforter, and mentor, we choose far more life and every spiritual blessing. He is always available and willing to be chosen. Fortunately, any time we recognize we have chosen idols we can immediately repent and turn to Him instead. The blessings begin to flow into our hearts and minds as soon as we put Him back at the center of our heart and mind.

As I grow in understanding the privilege of every spiritual blessing available to me in Christ, I want to join the songwriter in proclaiming: Praise God from whom all blessings flow! And I want to add: Praise Him for far more life!

Sisters,
What blessings have you received from God? Where is His favor and protection evident?
Do you value physical or spiritual blessings more? What will help you grow in your desire for His spiritual blessings?
What barriers keep you from believing He offers you EVERY spiritual blessing?
What worthless idols compete with Christ for your devotion?
Look for God’s spiritual blessings this week and praise Him for giving you far more life!
-Shari

Tag: Romans 8:28-29

Far More Protection

Every Spiritual Blessing