Briefing: When I was a child, I loved to play cops and robbers. I was always the cop. I had other friends who would play the part of a superhero but I would always choose to be a policeman. To me, being a police officer was a step above being a superhero.

Dispatch (Assignment): Read Romans 8:31-39.

On the Street: In our devotional on the previous verses, we saw that God works all things for the good of those who love Him. Paul now builds on this promise and says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” God is working for our good so we are more than conquerors, masters and victors. We are more than superheroes. We are children of the living God. What more can be said?

I think we lose sight of how important this promise is. We tend to go through life thinking a lot less of ourselves than what God expects. We let the world categorize us instead of letting God’s love define who we are. Have you ever found yourself thinking that you never reached the rank or position you thought you should have and that somehow means you have failed in your career?

The things of this world are going to try to keep our focus off of God. Some of the things listed are: trouble, hardship, persecution, financial problems, danger and violence. Paul warns us that these things will try to steal our attention from God and His love. We have to stop looking at the things of this world and begin to see things as God sees them.

Paul has been teaching some hard, but necessary, lessons. I love the fact that he takes time, right here in the middle of Romans, to encourage us. Just when all this talk of works and choices seems to get overwhelming God stops and says, through Paul, “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This is not as hard or difficult as it may sound. Jesus said, in Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Investigational Resources: Some superheroes have tools they use such as bullwhips, shields, suits of armor and utility belts to name a few. We have something better called the armor of God. Read Ephesians 6:10-18.

Officer Safety Principle: We have the power of God behind us. Why don’t we tap into it and see what He can do through us?

from The Book of Romans Through the Eyes of a Cop
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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