Scripture:
Rom. 8:38-39
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Observation:
Paul has addressed talked about the reality that the flesh and the spirit and the minds set on these are different. Justification and requirements and even outcomes are different with a life in the spirit and a life in the flesh. Paul talks also about the glory that is to come in Christ from the life we endure now. Suffering and so on is simply producing what can not be taken in the eternal glory of Jesus. He then addressed love that is stronger, mightier, and ours.
Application:
When we receive something in life a lot of the time there are conditions. When we have something, especially as kids, there are ways it can be taken away. Even as adults our actions, struggles, and circumstances can determine what we keep. This can pertain to our jobs, marriages, and just overall life. This one thing in the life that CAN NOT be taken away….regardless of death, tribulation, suffering, bad decisions, wrong thoughts, doubt, fear, skepticism, and so on….the LOVE OF GOD. There is NOTHING I can do that can separate me from the love of God. This is so counter to what life shows me. Love is normally earned…trust and respect is earned and can be taken at any point. Love in our world is circumstantial and conditional. This is not true of God…his love is unconditional, non-circumstantial. His love is strong, never fails, never leaves, nor forsakes, and nothing in all creation can separate me from it. This changed everything. I can live today not trying to earn Gods love, but simply receiving it and living in it and from it. I need this today. I won’t live today striving to earn Gods love and just rest In the fact that he loves me and NOTHING can separate me from his love or nothing can change that love.
Prayer:
God thank you for not loving me based on me. Thank you for loving me based on your son Jesus and he life and death and resurrection. Help me get this today and live in response to a love that is powerful and never ending.