“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Matthew 3: 13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
For reflection and journaling
- Reflect upon a time in which you deeply experienced God’s love for you. Describe the experience: What were you feeling, seeing, hearing or sensing? What did you come to know more deeply about God’s love for you through this experience?
- Hear God say to you, “This is my Son/Daughter, whom I love; with (your name) I am well pleased.” Repeat this several times, lingering with the statement each time. How does hearing God call your name as a beloved Son or Daughter with whom God is well pleased ring true for you? If it does not ring true, what is preventing knowing yourself as God’s beloved?
Romans 8: 31-39
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
For reflection and journaling
Prayerfully read through the passage very slowly. As you read, pay attention to what word or phrase resonates with you. Simply “be” with the word or phrase, letting it sink into your being. Rest with it. Eventually, after you have prayerfully spent some time allowing the word or phrase to circulate within, reflect upon the resonance this word/phrase has for you. What is its invitation“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
LEAVE US A COMMENT OR QUESTION
"*" indicates required fields