I.
If you ever came to some portion of Scripture and had a hard time finding something that caught your attention and provoked some questions for you, it would not be these sentences.

We have this week some words before us that bring with them centuries of theological baggage – foreknew, predestined, justified, and glorified. Oh, let’s not forget “… that all things work together for good…”

And that is our third paragraph.

First, let’s not let those words so draw us in, that we miss all the rest in our reading.

I encourage you to read this slowly and notice all that is before you.

You might even start by noticing the contrast Paul draws between “the present time” and “the glory about to be revealed.”

Then after reading and resting with the passage for a time, reread it and pay attention to what you sense draws the three paragraphs together.

II.
Romans 8:18-30 (New Revised Standard Version)

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

III.
Shall we begin with this – Do you find a common theme (or themes) that you hear through this reading?

Is it the contrast between “the present age” and something that is yet to come? Or maybe already in the “process” of becoming?

Is it the work of God in all of creation across all of time?

Is it that he starts with a “big picture” of “creation,” and then brings the focus to something very personal?

Well, those are a few things I have taken notice of.

What are you seeing today?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}