In the first verses of the eighth chapter of Romans, we see the great privilege of those that are in Christ Jesus. There is no more condemnation for them; there is not only the forgiveness of sins, but a full restoration from the power of sin. Not only that which has satisfied god’s justice, but that which frees, and carries us in a new position in Christ. Besides this, there is the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter who, in the first place, gives " witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God;" and in the second place, comes to help us in our weakness, while we are walking down here, making "intercession for us with groanings which cannot be expressed."

We are not in the flesh in the presence of God, but in the Spirit, though sin is yet in us, by reason of which, and of all the corruption and confusion in the world around us, '' we groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."

Now the believer, having the forgiveness of his sins, delivered from the power of sin, and having the comforting Spirit, has learned a holy truth, that is, God is for him.

Afflictions then cannot separate us from this love that is in God. It is a divine, unchanging love, which enters into all our circumstances. God is for us in our afflictions. He knows them beforehand. Jesus did not pray that Peter should not be tried by Satan, but that his faith should not fail; that is, Peter was to be tried. He trusted in himself and this was not right. There was danger that his faith should fail and that he should fall into despair, like Judas who went to kill himself; so the Lord prayed for him.

We also must be tried, but this must be done under the eyes of God, where we learn the perfect character of this love in all the circumstances.

Then after all this array of grace in the things spiritual, God is now seen as the Provider in the things temporal. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things ? " God thought of the clothing of the children of Israel in the desert. God is for us in everything. If death comes to us, we know that Christ has gone through it; if the strength of the enemy arises against us, we have the sustenance of that love which destroyed the enemy's power. In these things we learn the perfection of the love of God. It is manifested in the smallest circumstances, in all the particulars. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" There is no reason left to doubt this. If we find ourselves therefore in afflictions or in difficulties, it is a proof of the care that God takes of us.

Have we such thoughts of God? Not only that He has justified us from our sins, but that He Himself is for us? This is submission, and submission is a good thing, but we must do more:"In every thing give thanks!" Are we sufficiently near to God to give thanks in everything? To do this, it is imperative that our will be subjected to Him. We feel the affliction; God wants us to feel it; not to produce despair, but the sweet fruits of the Spirit-the character that was in our Lord. We then acknowledge this great truth, that He who works all things according to the counsel of His will, is the very One who is for us.

Thus we may confide in His love; and not only this, but also give Him thanks.
May the Lord give us understanding to comprehend better what grace is, that we may always be able to say, spite of the fact that we all fail in many things, "GOD IS for us."

Translated from the Italian "Dispensatore," by J. M.