No Separation

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Scripture: Romans 8:35-39 (ESV)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

                        For your sake, we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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.

Devotion:

            Paul began this chapter with the good news that “there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” Paul ends the chapter with even better news. In these few short verses, Paul assures the reader that not only is there no condemnation coming their way, but there is also absolutely nothing that can tear them away from the Savior.

            This passage details the profound depths of God’s love for His people. Paul affirms in this passage that even though God’s children may lose their earthly lives in defense of the gospel, God will never abandon us. God encourages His followers by declaring those conquerors and more than conquerors because we trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. No persecution can cause God’s people to be lost, whether strong or violent.

            The world, flesh, and the devil can never separate a believer from the Lord. There is genuinely nothing Paul can think of that will cause a believer to fail to succeed in following Jesus. We must rejoice in this word. There is nothing that can happen to us that, with God’s help, we will not overcome. The bond between the believer and the Savior is so strong that no foe on earth or in heaven will cause us to become disconnected from Jesus, our source of eternal life.

            This is excellent news. Paul (and Jesus) challenge us to believe this gospel word in our minds, hearts, and actions. How we love and treasure these words. But if you are anything like me, living them out is the challenge. We get so discouraged when we are met with opposition that we sometimes get moody or depressed thinking about our struggles. Paul calls us here to be so attached to our Lord that we can overcome all the challenges the forces of darkness throw at us. Let us thank God for his incredible, faithful, and steadfast love.

Prayer:

            Lord, thank you for this word. Help us believe it enough to live it out in our lives. Grant us the ability to trust in you, dear Lord. Help us rely on your promises and affirmations in these words of scripture so that we live as ambassadors of your love in this hurting and broken world. Thank you again for your love's height, depth, and breadth. Amen.

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