Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? —Romans 8:35
God does not keep His child immune from trouble; He promises, “I will be with him in trouble . . .” (Psalm 91:15). It doesn’t matter how real or intense the adversities may be; nothing can ever separate him from his relationship to God. “In all these things we are more than conquerors . . .” (Romans 8:37). Paul was not referring here to imaginary things, but to things that are dangerously real. And he said we are “super-victors” in the midst of them, not because of our own ingenuity, nor because of our courage, but because none of them affects our essential relationship with God in Jesus Christ. I feel sorry for the Christian who doesn’t have something in the circumstances of his life that he wishes were not there.
“Shall tribulation . . . ?” Tribulation is never a grand, highly welcomed event; but whatever it may be— whether exhausting, irritating, or simply causing some weakness— it is not able to “separate us from the love of Christ.” Never allow tribulations or the “cares of this world” to separate you from remembering that God loves you (Matthew 13:22).
“Shall . . . distress . . . ?” Can God’s love continue to hold fast, even when everyone and everything around us seems to be saying that His love is a lie, and that there is no such thing as justice?
“Shall . . . famine . . . ?” Can we not only believe in the love of God but also be “more than conquerors,” even while we are being starved?
Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver, having deceived even Paul, or else some extraordinary thing happens to someone who holds on to the love of God when the odds are totally against him. Logic is silenced in the face of each of these things which come against him. Only one thing can account for it— the love of God in Christ Jesus. “Out of the wreck I rise” every time.
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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
These words focus today’s lesson for me.
some extraordinary thing happens to someone who holds on to the love of God when the odds are totally against him. Logic is silenced in the face of each of these things which come against him.
That “extraordinary thing” which happens seems to be when we begin to see with your eyes, Like you did in John 5:19 … “only did what you saw the Father doing…. And think with your thoughts, which are higher and different … in a whole different category with different rules of logic.
Isaiah 55:8-9
New Living Translation (NLT)
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Lord, I want to peek into your world and see over your shoulder and walk in these ways more regularly. And can I get there “sooner” … sooner than after having exhausted all my human rationality and will power options.
It’s a good goal. There will always be some things reserved for when you get completely here. But I want to share much more of my life and power and love with you than you have been receiving. My Love is the connection that transforms your stressed out thinking to living on that higher plane where you really do “count it all joy” You have the tools. They will work if you pick them up and use them Acceptance, (without complaint) Curiosity, Expectation, and a firm Connection as we walk together.
Yes, Lord. I believe all that …. Now help me in my unbelief.
OK I will. You just keep coming and I’ll keep delivering my part.
Thanks, I love you.
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