The apostle Paul tirelessly preached Jesus in settings where both the Roman Empire and much of the Hebrew religious leadership strongly opposed him. Like those who opposed Jesus, Paul’s foes often seemed overwhelmingly strong. But Paul, though he was not devoid of human emotions, refused to let fear govern his life or determine what he would do. In his letter to Christians in Rome, he stated his view clearly: “If God is for us, who is against us?”

• Paul, trained as a rabbi, drew heavily on the Old Testament. Psalm 68 said God is a father to the fatherless, and Paul said the Holy Spirit teaches us to address God as abba, the Aramaic word little children used to address their fathers. Did you have a warm, trusting bond with your father, or was your experience of a human father more hurtful and fear-filled? How does the invitation to relate to God as abba speak to your heart?
• Paul also contrasted a fear-filled spirit of slavery with the privilege we have of being adopted as God’s own children. What role, if any, has fear played in your spiritual life? Have you ever had times where you sought desperately to please God by “trying harder”? Soak deeply into your spirit the life-changing implications of Paul’s word: “If God is for us, who is against us?”