“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29
Those whom God knew as His own through faith in Christ Jesus He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son — to be like Jesus in loving, trusting, and honoring God — that Jesus might be the firstborn among many brethren who, as a fruit of their faith in Christ, also honor, love, and trust in God above all else.
O gracious God, thank You for calling me to faith in Your Son and giving me Your pardon and forgiveness. Grant that I be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus and become like Him. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
Because of our sinful nature, we don’t know and understand our real needs — what is good for us and what is not. How comforting it is to know that the Spirit of God, who dwells in the hearts of God’s children (cf. Gal. 3:26-27), is interceding for them in accord with the will of God — asking for those things which are for our eternal wellbeing!
O Holy Spirit, thank you for interceding on my behalf and asking for and seeking those things that are for my eternal good. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15
In the same way as Moses, in the wilderness, lifted up a bronze serpent on a pole and those bitten by the fiery serpents could look in faith and live rather than die (Num. 21), so those who look in faith to Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross will not be condemned to eternal death for their sins but be pardoned, forgiven and have everlasting life.
Grant, dear Jesus, that I look to You and Your cross in faith for forgiveness and life eternal. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Romans 8:24-25
Hope, as it is used in the Bible, is based on the promises of God’s Word. Though we cannot yet see their fulfillment with our eyes, we believe the promises of God are true — that we have God’s pardon and forgiveness through faith in the shed blood of Christ Jesus and that He will raise us up on the Last Day and grant unto us and all believers in Christ the everlasting joys of heaven, where we will be without sin and its curse and serve God in true righteousness and holiness. Our hope rests in God and His Word, and we await the fulfillment of all God has promised us.
O Christ, we thank You for winning for us forgiveness and life everlasting. Come soon and take us to dwell with You forever in Your holy and glorious kingdom. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
The Spirit of God works through His Word to create and sustain faith in Jesus Christ. We often see the results of His work in people’s hearts but do not know when and where He will work next, except that it will be where the Word of God is rightly used and where Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are administered according to the teaching of God’s Word.
O Holy Spirit, grant that Your life-giving Word may take root in my life and my faith in Christ Jesus grows ever stronger. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
