God Is On Our Side
READ: Romans 8:31-39
The crowd was going crazy. Hearts were pounding, nails were being gnawed off, and fans were becoming hoarse from screaming. The boy's basketball team had made it to the state championship game, and had put themselves into a terrible position. One second was remaining on the clock, with the team trailing by one point, and one free throw remaining. The game was riding on Nick's shoulders. His knees were shaking, and his body quivering as he felt the importance of the game-tying free throw he was about to take. He took one glance at the basket, put the shot up, and screamed in frustration as the ball clanked off the backboard. As the team left the floor, the entire crowd booed Nick, and made him feel as if he were worthless. His own teammates joined in the persecution of his failure to save the game. Nick stayed around in the locker room for the remainder of the night and opened his Bible to Romans. There he found comfort knowing that His Savior was there for him.
Are you ever in these same types of positions in your spiritual life? Do hardships, rejection, and persecution effect you so much that you reach a point where it feels as if you don't have a friend in the world? If you do, I would like to remind you of something. In Romans the author tells us, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Christians shouldn't have a concern in the world hearing the soothing words of confidence that nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ. No matter how rejected we may feel, we know our Lord and Savior Jesus will be there on our side to comfort us in time of pain.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: What impression do depressed Christians give to unbelievers? What can you do for a Christian friend who feels as if everyone is against him? Think of ways you as a Christian can deal with any persecution that you may encounter.
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Ask God to give you strength to trust that no matter what others think of you, God will always be at your side "cheering" you on.