"Who Shall Separate us From the Love of God"

  We have all seen our share of bad news lately.  It seems living in this old world gets tougher every day - because the world grows farther and farther away from God every day.  As a result we see devastating tragedies all around us.  

       Somehow, in the midst of all the mayhem and madness we still see good in people.   Everyday folks reach out to help their fellowman and in that moment -- that one moment of choosing to do the right thing -- they become heroes.  
     
       In tough times like these, it is good to find encouragement through the scriptures.  When we see the good in people it helps us remember the goodness and the love of God.  

       The Bible - the true and living word of God- gives us comfort and hope.  One such chapter that offers us hope and reminds of God's goodness is Romans chapter 8.  Many of us are familiar with parts of this chapter and in particular vs. 28 -- "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." 
      

      That verse is truly comforting.  It is easy to see why we all turn to it for encouragement.  However, there are other verses in this chapter that give us the reassurance we seek from time to time.  Because you see, as one my friends said once -"This old world just beats you up sometimes." 

       One of the verses I love in this chapter is verse 18 - "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  We suffer in the world, but God has promised us glory ... if we are faithful.  

     Consider verses 13 and 14 - "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."  

   

     If we put to death our worldly way of life - then we are called the sons (and daughters) of God.  Now how awesome is that!!!  Verse 16 says - "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." 

      Paul talks about earthly suffering in this chapter.  He tells us we have  assurance that God is on our side; and no one can stand against us. (v. 31)  He also tells us the Spirit helps us.  He (the Spirit) intercedes for us when we don't know what to pray for.  

     

       Many times I have become so overwhelmed with sorrow and grief I could not put my prayer into words. How wonderful it is to know the Spirit intercedes for us -- and takes what is in our hearts -- what we can't express ourselves -- and gives that to God in a way that God can understand it (verses 26 & 27).  

      Really folks, this whole chapter is rich and full of treasure.  Read it whenever you are having a tough time.  I don't think anyone can read this chapter without feeling blessed and encouraged.  

      Verses 35-39 sums it up -- "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord."
    
    Hang in there -- even when the world gets really ugly and we feel like we have gone as far as we can go  - we have the Spirit interceding for us, (vs. 26-27) the love of Christ, (vs. 35) and the love of God on our side! (vs. 39) 

     And if God be for us -- then really -- who can be against us?

Christ above all things,
Robin