聽到恩典的福音之後，保羅預期會產生下列問題：「上帝的恩典既是白白施予的，我還可以繼續犯罪嗎？」「既然不受律法拘束，我可以忽視律法要求的道德標準嗎？」「我怎樣才能既享有律法的自由，又保有放縱的情慾呢？」保羅在今天的經文中語重心長的說明實情！他反駁成為基督徒就不再有痛苦煩惱的假象，相反的，那可能才是痛苦煩惱的開始呢！但賜生命的聖靈同時賜下信心、領導能力和代禱的權柄，幫助得勝的基督徒經過人生的風暴和每一天的困難。

        一個喜歡自己動手的人走進五金行，想買一把鋸子。店員從架子上拿出一把電鋸說：「這是我們最好的鋸子，保證一天可以鋸十捆木柴!』
        「好極了，就買這個吧!』客人歡天喜地的回答。
        第二天，他精疲力盡、形容憔悴的帶著電鋸到來店裡，抱怨說：「不知怎麼回事，我用這玩意兒－天之中只鋸了三捆木材。」
        「讓我瞧瞧!』店員很熱切的說，一面拉了一下發動馬達的繩索，立時電鋸發出一連串的低吼。
        「那是什麼聲音？」客人驚呼道。
        羅馬書第七章、八章可能使你聯想到這個喜歡自己動手的人來：一心向善(羅7)，卻無法運用使人得勝的能力，這能力就是上帝已經賜給人的聖靈(羅8)。看看你是否能在羅馬書第八章中，找到五個關於聖靈在你日常生活中的應許。挑選－個在今天實踐一番，這就是那些應許存在的理由。

        可怕的災難，有信心的愛!
        以現代的話語列舉羅馬書八章卅五節及卅八到卅九節中的十七種苦難。比方說，「赤身露體」可解釋為「家無長物」，而「困苦」則可說是「年長日久，薪水不足」，現在以此感受讀這段經文。

如果上帝賜下的任務使你力不能勝，那麼一定是上帝不要你獨力承擔。

English

        Paul anticipates the questions that will naturally arise as the result of hearing about a gospel of grace. "If God's grace is free, then am I free to sin?" "If I am free from the law, then can 1 ignore the ethical demands of the law?" "What is the relationship of the believer to the law?" "How can I enjoy freedom from the law and the flesh in my daily life?" Paul sounds painfully realistic in today's section! He has no illusions that becoming a Christian means the end of your troubles. Rather, it may be only the beginning! But the life-giving Spirit provides confidence, leadership, and intercession for victorious Christian living in the storms and complexities of everyday life.

        A do-it-yourselfer went into a hardware store and asked for a saw. The salesman pulled a chain saw from the shelf and commented, "This is our finest saw. Guaranteed to cut 10 cords of lumber a day."
        "I'll take it!" responded the customer jubilantly.
        Next day he came back, haggard and exhausted, to return the chain saw. "Something must be wrong," he moaned. "I could only cut three cords of lumber a day with that thing."
        "Let me try it," urged the salesman, pulling on the cord to start the motor. "Vvvrooommm." went the chain saw.
        "What's that noise?" exclaimed the customer.
Chapters 7 and 8 may remind you of the plight of that do-it-yourselfer: wanting to do the right thing (chapter 7), but failing to apply the power for victorious living that God has supplied in the person of the Holy Spirit (chapter 8). See if you can find five promises in chapter 8 regarding the Holy Spirit's role in your daily life. Then select one and draw upon it today. That's why they're there!

        Formidable Obstacles. Faithful Love —
        Take the 17 items mentioned in 8:35, 38-39 and give each a modern-day paraphrase. For example, "nakedness" could mean "an empty closet"; "distress" might become "too much month and not enough paycheck." Now read the passage—with feeling!

If the burden God has given you seems too heavy to carry, be assured God never expects you to carry it alone.