Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 7
Thursday


GOD'S TRAINING
SCHOOL

READ:
Romans 8:12-17
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[We are] heirs of God
and joint heirs with
Christ, if indeed we
suffer with Him.
__Romans 8:17
________________________________________

Lew Wallace's book Ben-Hur tells the story of a Jewish aristocrat betrayed by his best friend and condemned to serve as a galley slave in the Roman navy. On a forced march to the ship, Judah Ben-Hur meets Jesus of Nazareth, whose compassion fills him with hope. Eventually, Ben-Hur saves the Roman commander during battle. In gratitude, the commander adopts Ben-Hur as his son, instantly elevating him from slave to heir.

That's what happens to us when God adopts us into His family. But great privilege brings great responsibility. Paul said that we become "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him" (Rom. 8:17). The gospel does not say, "Come to Jesus and live happily ever after." God's syllabus for His children's education includes training through hardships.

Ben-Hur's years of enduring hardship as a Roman slave strengthened him and increased his endurance. He eventually defeated his "friend-turned-enemy" in a chariot race.

As endurance and training were key to Ben-Hur's victory, so are they vital to victory in the Christian's war with sin and evil. The hard times we endure are God's way to prepare us for greater service for His glory. __C.P. Hia
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```````````So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,
```````````To eyes made blind because they will not see,
````````To spend though it be blood__to spend and spare not__
````````````So send I you to taste of Calvary. __Clarkson
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We conquer by continuing.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 8:12-17*********

12 Therefore, brethren, we
are debtors__not to the
flesh, to live according to
the flesh. 13 for if you live
according to the flesh you
will die; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the deeds
of the body, you will live.

14 For as many as are led by
the spirit of God, these are
sons of God. 15 For you did
not receive the spirit of
bondage again to fear, but
you received the Spirit of
adoption by whom we cry
out, "Abba, Father." 16 The
Spirit Himself bears witness
with our spirit that we are
children of God, 17 and if
children, then heirs__heirs
of God and joint heirs with
Christ, if indeed we suffer
with Him, that we may also
be glorified together.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Notice in today's Bible reading the extensive nature of the ministry
of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that the Spirit enables us to "put
to death the deeds of the body" (v.13), leads us as God's Children
(v.14), enables us through adoption to call God our Father (v.15),
and affirms God's saving work in our hearts (v.16). It is one of the
truly great passages in the New Testament on the work of the Spirit
in our lives__and one we should celebrate! __Bill Crowder