God's Promises are for Me
Have you ever tried reading the Bible in the first-person perspective? As a Christ follower, it means taking the promises of God in His Word and translating them into truth, and claiming them. While God’s promises to us must always be taken in the context of the whole Body of Christ — the Church — we also know that His intent for salvation extends to each of us. After all, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd, who leaves the 99 to seek out and save the one lost sheep (John 10:11; Luke 15:1-17).
When I feel discouraged, one of my favorite passages through which I pray in the first-person is Romans 8. Read Romans 8: 1, 14-17, 35, 37-39 below. It has been changed into a first-person perspective. I hope that praying through these truths will bless you today!
|
|
Original NRSV
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
|
|
First Person Version
There is therefore now no condemnation for me since I am in Christ Jesus. For since I am led by the Spirit of God I am a child of God. For I did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but I have received a spirit of adoption. When I cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with my spirit that I am a child of God, and if His child, then an heir, heir of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in fact, I suffer with him so that I may also be glorified with him. Who will separate me from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things I am more than a conqueror through him who loved me. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus my Lord.
|
|
|
The Rev. Naomi B. Sundara
Chaplain to the Preschool
|
|
If you know someone who would like to receive our daily devotions,
please forward your copy to a friend.
|
|
To reply to this devotional, please email
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
