“but the Spirit himself intercedes for us…”
Romans 8:26

Romans 8 has two really cool things that I can’t even begin to describe.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

v. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

I don’t claim to understand how this stuff works, but I do know this. God is three yet one, right? Here, in the same chapter, we see two of the three praying to the one for our benefit. I know that prayer is important, that I need to do it and learn how to be effective at it. But, honestly, prayer is a complex discipline. It seems that God requires us to pray, yet I don’t have a clue as to what God’s will is in many circumstances. Besides that, I’m terribly inconsistent in my prayer life.

While there is no excuse for being lazy or sloppy, I see here in these two verses that God has even that covered for me. The Holy Spirit AND Jesus himself are praying for me. Not HAVE prayed or WILL pray, but they ARE praying in the CURRENT tense. That means they have been, are, and will be praying for us. Not only that, but they will be praying perfectly according to God’s will for us. How could you ask for anything more than that?

Honestly, I don’t think we can wrap our heads around this .

What will be the outcome?

v. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

My friends, this should be one of the verses you fall back on regularly. How can anything be more reassuring than this, knowing that no matter what happens, all things will work out for our good. Our good. Not for the good of someone else or the good of our country, but for OUR good – as in you, individually, and me, individually. Flat tire? That will work out for my good. Family feud? That will work out for my good. Nice compliment? For my good. Yes, life may be difficult at times, but who of us doesn’t look back on these and see the good that came out of them. Honestly, if we don’t, it’s only because we aren’t looking.

Now, this doesn’t apply for those who aren’t Jesus’ sheep. They don’t hear his voice. They don’t have this relationship with God. Honestly, that’s terrifying to think about. On the other hand, Paul continues on hammering home the assuredness of our salvation.

v. 29-30 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Stay tuned. Tomorrow, we’ll see Paul hammer this home as we wrap up this great and awesome chapter of Romans.

Father, thank you for not leaving it up to me. You guide me, mold me, and carry me to eventually become like Jesus. I know for certain this will be the result of your work. Amen.

Copyright © 2019 Scott Powers