Today's devotional - June 5, 2013
An elderly friend often comments, "if it doesn't ache or hurt, it's not mine". My favorite aging quote - from a popular television series a few years ago - is, "Growing old is like being increasingly penalized for a crime you haven't committed" (Anthony Powell). Aches, creaks, and groans are part of our shared experience as mortals, regardless of age. In fact, we live in a world of groaning, this side of the kingdom.
"For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8.22-23)
The groaning of all created things and beings is more comparable to childbirth than aging. Being of the male gender, my experience with childbirth is only secondhand. Being at my wife's side during the delivery process of both of our children, however, gives me a keen appreciation of its agony. The aches and pains of aging pale in comparison to the intense pain of childbirth.
Subject to groaning and the pain of childbirth because of sin, all creation and creatures long for release from this awful sentence. And, it will come with utter suddenness on the day of resurrection, at Jesus' return. Groaning and pain will cease at "the redemption of our body".
In this present age of groaning, it is encouraging to know that God's Spirit groans for us better than we can: "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8.26). God's Spirit, internally present in the life of every believer, communicates on a subconscious level with our Creator, to convey what we can never verbalize.
Likely there will be some groaning and pain in your experience today. As a Spirit-filled believer, there will also be a different form of groaning - a dynamic internal link with the Father. May that connection encourage you today as you await the ultimate encouragement - the coming resurrection, and the gift of immortality.
©Steve Taylor, 2013
"For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8.22-23)
The groaning of all created things and beings is more comparable to childbirth than aging. Being of the male gender, my experience with childbirth is only secondhand. Being at my wife's side during the delivery process of both of our children, however, gives me a keen appreciation of its agony. The aches and pains of aging pale in comparison to the intense pain of childbirth.
Subject to groaning and the pain of childbirth because of sin, all creation and creatures long for release from this awful sentence. And, it will come with utter suddenness on the day of resurrection, at Jesus' return. Groaning and pain will cease at "the redemption of our body".
In this present age of groaning, it is encouraging to know that God's Spirit groans for us better than we can: "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8.26). God's Spirit, internally present in the life of every believer, communicates on a subconscious level with our Creator, to convey what we can never verbalize.
Likely there will be some groaning and pain in your experience today. As a Spirit-filled believer, there will also be a different form of groaning - a dynamic internal link with the Father. May that connection encourage you today as you await the ultimate encouragement - the coming resurrection, and the gift of immortality.
©Steve Taylor, 2013
posted by steve @ 8:43 AM
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