Verse: Romans 8:31-32
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Devotional Thoughts:
I love to read. And one of my favorite book series is The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. His classic book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is a timeless work that threads together the wonderful themes of sacrificial love and redemption in its story.
Two of the scenes in the book really stand out to me.
In one, Aslan (the Messianic figure) and Peter (one of the siblings the book is centered around) come across one of the Wolves that serve the White Witch. Peter and the Wolf square off for battle, and a member of Aslan’s army races forward to try to fight the Wolf on Peter’s behalf. Aslan calls him off, however, and says that this is a battle that Peter must fight on his own.
The other scene is really the biggest scene in the entire book. Edmund (another of the siblings) had betrayed and sold out his own people, and deserved to be put to death. In a nutshell, to save him from the Witch, Aslan swapped places with Edmund and died in his place on the stone tablet. Because of Aslan’s sacrifice, the stone tablet broke in two, “death started working backwards,” and Aslan returned to life.
Points to Ponder:
What C.S. Lewis capably puts into a fictional reality is very much true for us here in the real world.
That is this: God is completely, utterly, unreservedly for you.
God wants what’s best for you. He’s wholeheartedly for you. And not only does He want that, but He’s personally and sacrificially invested in you.
Think about this question Paul presents us: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” God has already sent His Son! What is He going to withhold from us that we need? The answer is obvious: nothing. He’s already given to us that which is most valuable.
So remember that. God is completely for you. Even in the battles and struggles you didn’t know you’d face, God can use those to develop you into person He’s forming you to be. He won’t hold back anything you truly need in becoming the person He desires you to be.
Entrust yourself to Him. Pray for spiritual growth. And know that “”He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
