If God Is For Us

Date: January 22, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

Bible Scripture Verse – Romans 8:31

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Listen for God’s Voice

Heavenly Father, Please guide me in how I can apply this wisdom in my life and let it be a source of strength and encouragement for me. Give me the clarity and insight to see the truth of this verse and let it guide my thoughts and actions. Help me to trust that if you are for me, no one can be against me. Amen.

Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?

The book of Romans is believed to have been written by the Apostle Paul, to the Romans around AD 57-58, while he was in Corinth.

The letter was addressed to the Christian community in Rome, which at the time was made up of both Jewish and Gentile converts. Paul had never visited Rome before, but he had a desire to do so and was eager to teach to the community there. He wrote the letter to provide them with a deeper understanding of the gospel and to encourage them in their faith.

Study and Savor – Key Words

I only picked out two key words:

"For" - In this context, "for" means in support or favor of. The scripture states that "if God is for us", meaning that if God is on our side, we can have confidence and strength.

"Against" - "Against" means to be opposed to or in opposition to. In the scripture, it is stated that "who can be against us" if God is for us, meaning that if God is on our side, no one or nothing can defeat us.

Summarize and Share

Paul wrote this letter because he saw an opportunity to reach large numbers of people with the message of Jesus Christ. In the rest of the letter, he is explaining the basic beliefs of the Christian faith, the nature of God, the role of Jesus Christ, and the meaning of salvation. 

Paul is reminding them that, if God is on their side, they can overcome any obstacle that comes their way. He is encouraging them to trust in God's power and protection, and to not be afraid of the opposition they may face. This verse has been such a huge source of inspiration and comfort to so many people throughout history, especially for the Christians in Corinth who were facing persecution, and other challenges.

It also brings great comfort to us as well. It’s definitely a favorite among so many of us as a reminder that God is always with us, and we don’t have anything to fear.  We can trust in His power and protection to help us through any challenges we might face. 

So if it brings us comfort, shouldn’t we share this verse and this message with others?  We are called to share the message of salvation with others so that they too can accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Paul had a deep sense of compassion for anyone still living in darkness and had a mindset of urgency to reach out to as many people as possible who are lost and need salvation. 

We should all strive to be more like Paul and take the call to share the message more seriously. It isn’t just an act of love, but an essential part of our roles as believers. Be bold, share the message with whoever we meet. We never know whose life we might change for the better. 

Bible Cross Reference

Isaiah 41:10 - "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." This verse from Isaiah echoes the sentiment of Romans 8:31, in that God is with us and will strengthen and uphold us. It also emphasizes that we should not fear, as God is our protector.

Psalm 27:1 - "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" This verse from Psalm reminds us that the Lord is our light and salvation, and that we should not fear because he is our stronghold and protector.

Hebrews 13:6 - "So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'" This verse from Hebrews reassures us that the Lord is our helper, and that we should not be afraid of what others can do to us because God is always with us.

2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." This verse from 2 Timothy reminds us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. This means that when we trust in God, we can overcome fear and live a life of courage and strength, just like Romans 8:31 is telling us.