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“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:22, NIV)

Making sense of the apparent senselessness of many of the things we encounter in life is frustratingly difficult unless we maintain a perspective that is informed by God’s viewpoint.

In today’s passage, Paul states that all of creation is in transition. If we do not believe that God’s perfect creation was — and is — corrupted by sin, it is frustratingly difficult to account for the dysfunction we see in every aspect of life.

If we do not believe that God’s plan of redemption is at work, both in the past and in the present; and that this plan is moving toward a divinely-ordered end, our frustration will soon become despair.

Do all that you must to maintain God’s point of view, particularly in the difficult spots. – Luther

Tagged corruption, God's perspective, redemption, the book of Romans

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“Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.” (Hebrews 12:9-10, NIV)

God’s plan for you and me is that we become like Him. This state is called “holiness,” and it was what God had in mind when He created us “in His image and after His likeness.” (Genesis 1:26a) Through the heritage of sin, we fall short of our original destiny.

God is at work in us (always) through our circumstances (all of them) for our good. We aid the process through obedience to God. We hinder God’s work in us when we delay, debate, or detour.

How do we know when to get involved — or when to get out? It begins with our full commitment to do whatever it is that God’s spirit leads us to do; and full confidence in our heavenly Father’s plan for us. – Luther

Tagged corruption, God's plan, holiness, sin, the book of Hebrews

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“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20, NIV)

Today’s verse is taken from a larger scripture passage (Philippians 3:1-21) where Paul addresses the challenges — and the frustrations — in aspiring to live a holy life in the midst of corruption.

We tend to think of “corruption” as a synonym for “evil.” It is not.

Corruption occurs in any instance where some thing’s (or someone’s) true form or function is shaped or used for a lesser purpose. For example, using a kitchen knife as a screwdriver is a corruption of the design and purpose of the knife. The knife will do the job of driving a screw, but often with permanent damage to the knife tip. Better to just use the correct tool for the job, right?

We bear the signs of “corruption” in our body and mind. We are in physical decline, although we are eternal beings. We dream of heaven’s glories while toiling for the trinkets of earth. We are citizens of heaven living under the laws of earth. We were not created for this!

The solution to our corruption is the Savior. His advent will end our exile. In the meantime, wait — and work — in faithfulness toward that day. – Luther

Tagged citizenship, corruption, faithfulness, the book of Philippians

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