We will hopefully be introducing the song ‘Our God’ shortly in church. I couldn’t possibly conclude a Bible study on Romans 8 without some reference to it. I hope this whets your appetite to learn it!
Last year, as some of you may remember, I had the privilege of volunteering at Passion London, a conference for university students led by the Passion movement (Louie Giglio, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Francis Chan, Beth Moore and Kristian Stanfill are all involved in this mission to reach out to and equip students). If you’re interested, you can see photos and read about the event at http://268generation.com/blog/2010/05/ (scroll down the page to get to May 15 and there’s even a photo of the back of me in an orange T-shirt, but I doubt you’d recognise me!)
It was such a privilege to worship with over 1500 students on the Friday and Saturday evenings of that event and to sing ‘Our God’, to declare the truths of Romans 8 with the lyrics:
“And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?” (“Our God”, Chris Tomlin & Matt Redman)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlA5IDnpGhc
But in the months since that event, when Louie Giglio preached powerfully from this same chapter we have been studying over recent months, a lot of water has gone under the bridge and there have been times when it’s been difficult to hold onto these words. Nonetheless, we stand firm. God’s Word is true. No matter what our experiences, no matter what comes against us, we know that if God is for us, who can stand against us? We know that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. And so we have peace and security.
I loved singing my heart out with all those students. But I love singing my heart out on my own as well, with the tears streaming down my face, when everything isn’t as rosy as it could be. Because no matter what the circumstances, God is over all and in all and is with His people and is greater and stronger and higher than any other. To Him be all the glory!