"Who Shall Separate Us from the Love of God"

We have all seen our share of bad news.  It seems living in this old world gets tougher every day - because the world grows farther and farther away from God every day.   

Somehow, out of the tragedies in our lives - we still find good in people.  Every day people reach out to help their fellowman and in that moment -- that one moment of choosing to do the right thing -- they become heroes.  

There is some good in this world, it is just not what we see on the news.  I am thankful we find it in our local communities. Those instances give us hope and comfort.  We see the good in people and through all that goodness we remember the goodness and the love of God.  

We can also find encouragement through the scriptures.  The Bible - the true and living word of God- help us get through our toughest times.  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." 

However, there are other verses in this wonderful chapter that give us much needed reassurance.  One of the passages 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."  God has promised us glory ... if we are faithful.  

Verse 14 says - "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.  To be adopted as God’s children truly is glorious!  

God's Spirit knows our infirmities and He intercedes for us when we don't know what to pray for.  The Spirit takes what is in our hearts and gives that to God (verses 26-27).  Then comes verse 28 which so many of us have memorized. 

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.  

Consider Verses 35-39 “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."

So hang in there, even when the world gets ugly and we feel like we have gone as far as we can go,  just remember “If God is for us, who can be against us? (v. 31b)”

Christ above all things - Robin