Romans 8 - timely

Thank heavens for the Bible… I needed this encouragement tonight:

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. …22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly [apekdechomai, to expect fully: - look (wait) for.] for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope [elpis, From ἔλπω elpō which is a primary word (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: - faith, hope.] we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait [apekdechomai, to expect fully: - look (wait) for.] for it patiently [hupomonē, cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).]. Romans 8:21-25

Sometimes, I like digging into the Greek. I have heard this passage a lot—but I love the confidence that the Greek brings out (We wait eagerly, expect fully, our redemption). Hope takes a more concrete confidence, faith, hope…. And we wait patiently with cheer and hope. One of my friends highlighted the last part—sometimes, we can drag our feet and waiting patiently seems like a burden. A sigh. But he says:

“I know patience is hard to come by, but maybe patience isn't being nonchalant and impassive about something, but being so eager for it that we'll sit tight and wait for it as long as necessary. Like movie-goers who line up at the theater hours before the premier or Christmas shoppers who get up before the sun and wait out in a cold parking lot to be one of the first into the store when it opens.”

Yes, we’re caught in a messed up world right now, with suffering bodies, with slavery and horrible injustices…. But God is working. We have a hope—and it is something that will come, we expect it fully, and we wait eagerly and cheerfully. ‘Cause it’s going to be good.

I read this in the Message the other day, and I loved the connection. Following the above segment…. We may get tired in the waiting, and our eagerness may wear off, but…

Romans 8:26-28, The Message, Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

I love the connection that Eugene Philips makes between the Spirit’s praying, our waiting, and the reason that “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28 NIV).

He has us in His hands before we knew him, before time—now, in our present sufferings and is working on our behalf—and in the future, in a glory and hope far beyond our imaginings.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!

Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!

Glory down all the generations!

Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

Eph. 3:20-21, Message