Episode 448

TODAY’S READING:

31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.

We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Romans 8:35-39

 

This version of this passage is my favorite. I think it lays it out for us in black and white text. There it is. There is nothing in this world that can separate us from the love of God, so why is it so hard for us to accept it?

 

I think our success comes from perception. How we perceive any situation will determine our reactions. For example, the tone of text and email can be completely taken out of context and could hurt a relationship. In the world that I work in, we have clients, and often times we introduce ourselves to our clients by email before our initial phone call.

 

So much can be misunderstood in an email exchange if the person reading the email has very little knowledge of marketing terminology. Or even if they read a sentence or two with the wrong punctuation.

 

I think the same can be said of us when reading the Bible. If we can misunderstand text, imagine how likely it is to misunderstand the text of the Bible. The world has a perception of our faith, and it makes it hard for some of us to boldly accept the love of Christ. Some of us still carry shame or regret. I am here to remind myself and you in the process that we have access to the purest of love, and nothing on this planet can operate us from His love.

 

All we need to do is make sure we always make it a point to understand His text, understand His words, understand why He has given us a road map, and accept His love.

 

PRAYER

Father God, we love you so much. We know nothing can separate you from the love you have for us. Today we commit to reading your word and reflecting and accepting your pure love. We thank you for loving us with the magnitude that you do. We pray that you bless this beautiful Wednesday. It is in your Son’s Holy name that we pray, AMEN!