Romans 8:31-33 … The One who sets us Free (09/10/16)
“As God is for us, who is against us? …
It is God who sets us Free. Who then is to condemn?”
~ Paul (Romans 8:31-33)
One of the great misconceptions about this verse is the belief that it seemingly implies that an external, personal God will “set us free” from our own trials and turmoils; that He will somehow swoop down and “make it all better” … Of course – as most of us are already aware, nothing could be further from the Truth.
But the fact that God does not come and immediately rescue us from our moments of pain & longing does not mean He doesn’t exist, or even that He doesn’t care. Rather, it actually mildly evidences exactly the opposite – namely, that He (assuming He exists at all) Loves us so much that He refuses to assist us in our times of need; thereby allowing us to come to know the deepest Bliss available to us – the Joy that only comes to those who transcend their self-centered moanings via actively Caring for others in those very times of trial & trouble. Indeed, this is the only way that any God can truly “set us free” – by giving us the space needed to choose Love anyway, and thereby choose to free our Selves.
Amen … Let it be so.
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