Today’s Scripture Focus: Romans 8:22-39

Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is the foundational truth that ties all these wonderful promises together.

Because God loves me, I can endure the present sufferings knowing, that they “are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” And that brings the hope to wait eagerly  “…for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. “ (23-25) It may be tough now, but God loves me and the best is yet to come!  I will be rewarded for my patient endurance in suffering.  There will come a day when I realize that it has been worth it all.Because God loves me I have confidence of knowing that  “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (KJV)  He is good, and he will not allow this circumstance in the life of one of his children without somehow using it for good.

Because God loves me and demonstrated that love in the most sacrificial way possible, I can trust him for all the things I need:  “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32, NIV).  Did you catch the logic of that verse?  If God loves you so much to send his son to die for you, can’t he be trusted to graciously give you everything you need?  Will he not graciously give us all things?  What a promise!

Because God loves us, we are “more than conquerors” through Him who loves us (37).  Whatever you may be facing today, remember that God loves you.  Jesus and the Holy Spirit are both interceding for you and the Father is working good, somehow, through this situation.  Patiently wait in hope and see how he brings you through by “graciously giving you all things” and enabling you to become “more than a conqueror through Him who loves you.”

Open your heart to his love today.  Let him pour it out into your heart.  It’s just what you need to face the storms of life and come out the other side more than a conqueror reflecting more and more of the glory of Christ who lives in us.

With Joy,
Pastor Jeff
Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 78:32-55
2 Chronicles 14:1 – 16:14
Romans 9:1-21
Proverbs 20:1