The Love of God

 The Love of God

January 8, 2025

Romans 8:35-39

35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,

“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;

WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ.”  Indeed, how can we compare or daily struggles with love of God. Are these difficulties of any significance in the grand scheme of things? I say, yes, our trials have significance for our life because God loves us. Now this seems contradictory, but the truth is that our struggles strengthen us. Resistance builds strength. We know that in the gym, and it is equally true in our daily life. Let’s go back to Romans 8 and see how Paul starts this discourse:

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Wuest Word Studies translates this as:

Romans 8:28 

Andwe know with an absolute knowledge that for those who are loving God, all things are working together resulting in good, for those who are called ones according to His purpose.

There is evil in the world, so it is not that all things are good, but it is that all things work together for our good when we trust in the Lord and walk in his plan for us. When we are walking in His  purpose we can overcome obstacles and triumph over adversity. 

After walking with the Lord for many years and going through many trying times, I can agree with Paul that nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. It is not that the evil one has not tried to separate me and it is Not that I have been discouraged at times, but in the end, I know that I know that God loves me and that’s all that really matters in the world. Life in this world is. It a training field, choir practice, it you will. When we learn to love God and worship Him in all things, then we are ready to enter into true love and are ready to worship Him forever in the heavenly choir. O what a day that will be!

Love of God, Through it All

 Love of God, Through it All

December 14, 2024

Romans 8:31-39 (ESV) 

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up forus all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or 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.

Yesterday, we were talking about the brokenhearted. In the letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul lists several things that could cause us to be brokenhearted: “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … regarded as sheep to be slaughtered“ That’s quite a list of problems, but his conclusion is that even these hardships cannot separate us from the Love of Christ. All of us have seen hard times, though probably to as severe as the things that Paul went through. Still, though having survived ship wrecks and prisons, he kept his faith in the Lord and an awareness that God was with him through it all. Andre Crouch used to sing a song called “Through it All”. This song conveys the same message, that no matter what the problem, God’s love is with you through it all.

Through it all through it all 

I've learned to trust in Jesus 

I've learned to trust in God 

Through it all through it all 

I've learned to depend upon His word

(Chorus of “Through it all” by Andre Crouch)

One of the hardest things in life is the death of a loved one. We recently had death in our extended family and I remember this passage from Romans 8. When my own father passed away, I was encouraged by this passage. 

38For 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.

For us, death is a finality, and is a finality for our time on earth. But for the Lord, death is only a transition from one life to another, and even death can not separate us from from the love of God. How great a love is this then that transcends life and death and is greater than angels and principalities! So be encouraged. Whatever problem you have that could try to make you brokenhearted, take heart and know that the Lord is with you and nothing can separate you from the Love of Christ.

Christian Mourning

Mourning

We’ve had a number of deaths in the family and among friends lately. It has been a difficult time and raises the question “How should a Christian mourn the loss of a loved one?”

Matthew 5:4

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Jesus said the grieving, lamenting, crying and mourning is a part of life. Furthermore, he promises to comfort those who mourn. So when we lose a loved one, it is alright to cry a little and lament their loss. We rightly feel the loss and will miss their presence in our lives. However, for Christians, there is a limit to mourning and when the loved ones knows Jesus, there is also an element of rejoicing. John writes in the Revelation about the ultimate destiny of those who die in the Lord:

Revelation 7:16-17

16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;

17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

So we rejoice that they are in the presence of Jesus and celebrate their life. We remember all that their life has meant to us and we honor their memory. But even so, we are saddened by the loss of their presence in our lives. We miss them.

Having experiences the loss of both parents and all my siblings, I can tell you from experience that the grieving process takes time. The first year is the hardest. When that next birthday, anniversary or holiday comes up, we think about them and wish they were still with us to celebrate the occasion. My sister was a San Francisco Giants fan, and to this day I wonder if she is watching when the game comes on TV. Anyhow. who knows, maybe heaven has a direct line to the MLB network! With God all things are possible!

After a time, normal mourning will subside. We still remember but the memories are not as sharp as the once were. The hard part is when there are painful memories that just won’t go away on their own. If there is unforgiveness between you and the departed one, healing comes hard. It is possible however, to receive healing for relationships, even after one of the parties has departed this world. They can no longer forgive us, of course, but we can still forgive them and also forgive ourselves for our part in the hurtful relationship. Ask a trusted prayer partner for help in this if you  are troubled by unresolved conflicts. It is possible to receive forgiveness and healing and then the true Godly mourning can begin.

I hope this helps somewhat. I recently told on relative whose father had just passed away that the simple answer to grieving is the there is no simple answer! It takes time, and prayer and the support of Godly friends and family. So if you find yourselves in this position of having lost a loved one, reach out to a friend or someone you trust at church and pray it through. Mourning is natural, but is still painful, but God will help you though it. Remember what King David said about it:

Psalms 23:4

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

A final thought on the subject is this. Consider what the writer to the Hebrews said about those that have gone before us:

Hebrews 12:1-3

Jesus, the Example

1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Perhaps the best tribute to a lost loved one, is to live a life that honors all that they taught us. We are a living legacy of their life, so do not grow weary and lose heart, but continue to run the race in such a way that honors those that have gone before, but now are watching as a great cloud of witness to cheer us on towards the goal!