Daily Devotional

If God Before

By Milan Ford
This week's topic: God's Guidance

James Augustine Joyce, one of the most influential writers of the early 20th century, once wrote these words: “Mistakes are portals of great discovery.”

This quote rang true when browsing online just a few months ago. I ran across a note that a dear friend wrote on her Facebook page as a source of encouragement and inspiration to those who followed and ‘befriended’ her online. In the note, she referenced a very familiar passage of scripture, yet while doing so, accidentally made a mistake with one particular word.

And although she quickly corrected it after a few of her friends had pointed it out, I believe the ‘mistake’ she made may serve as a great discovery for many of us as believers. Let’s see if you can find the word she wrote down in error:

“…if God before us, who can be against us?”

Did you find it? I can give you another moment if you need one. That’s right; the word BEFORE, according to Romans 8:31, should have actually been the words BE FOR. A simple mistake, but perhaps, not as incorrect as one may want to believe.

As believers, we must understand that our faith journey should not be dependent on what is PRESENTLY going on around us, nor should it be subject to what we fear is just AHEAD of us, but rather it should be rooted and grounded in the ONE who has gone BEFORE us.

A God who was there in the very BEGINNING…(John 1:1v)
A God who knew us BEFORE we were formed…(Jeremiah 1:5v)
A God who is BEFORE all things…(1 Colossians 1:17v)
And lastly, a God who BEFORE the very foundation of the world, chose to adopt you and I as His sons and daughters…(Ephesians 1:4-5v)

When we as believers truly understand that God is BEFORE us, we can take confidence in knowing that he will BE FOR anything we stand in need of. There is nothing in this world that can stand against those who serve a God who loves to go BEFORE.

I dare you to take a moment today and repeat these words:
If God BEFORE me, then He will BE FOR me.
If God BEFORE me, then He will BE FOR me.
If God BEFORE me, then He will BE FOR me.

Sounds correct to me.

Scripture Of The Day: "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." - Colossians 1:17 (NIV)

Milan Ford has been a leader and survivor of ministry within the local church for most of his life. The author of 83 Things I Wish The Black Church Would Stop Doing, Milan is now working on his second book, I Still Love Those Fries, which is scheduled for release Fall 2011. For more on Milan Ford, log onto http://milanford.com.…

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