September 5 – He Knew and He Knows

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”  Romans 8:29  (NASB)

Again, we need to remember the truth from the verse just before today's selection.  The apostle Paul has written to the Romans to let them know that God is in control of all things in our world.  So great is His love for us that whatever happens in our lives, God causes good to come from it for those who love Him. Today's verse reminds us what God has done and is doing in our lives and why He is doing it.  We do not live our Christian lives by ourselves.  We never could do so successfully.  God is involved and in control if we let Him. God has knows us before we were born and He knew which ones of us would respond to Him and love Him and who would believe and want to be like Jesus.  Every day, God wants us to be like Jesus who is the first one raised from the dead to new life so that each of us also can have that new life and become one of His family.  

# # #

August 15 – A Standard To Transformation

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Romans 12:2 -   (ESV)

Do we ever wonder why we face difficulties and trials in our life.  After all, if we believe in God and have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, should we not have smooth sailing?  We all know that is not what happens, don't we?  We are reminded in our verse that there is a big difference between the way people in this world think and the way God thinks.  When we come to God in faith believing and enter His family He wants us to begin thinking the way He does.  Our verse says we need to have our minds renewed and that is what God is doing when He allows testing and trials to come our way.  When we turn to God, and not conform our thinking to the way “everyone else” does, we use what He has taught us, our minds are renewed, and we gain discernment into God's will  for our lives.  That is our promise.  Follow the path to renewal and we will know what God's will is according to His standard. 

# # #