A short reading and prayer for today
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 NLT
When I lived in India I got to know an elderly missionary who had lived in the area for a very long time. She had asthma and found that the tropical climate was very helpful for her condition so when she retired she stayed in India and continued to have a powerful ministry. Whenever I said goodbye to her, she would come out onto her veranda and wave and she always used the same words. She would say “No separation.” It was an unusual greeting but what she was celebrating was that when we become Christians nothing can separate us from God’s love. Even if we travel away from our Christian brothers and sisters we are always united in his love. Isn’t that wonderful?
Paul has gone to great lengths to spell out how destructive sin is, and one of the terrible things that sin always does is to cause separation. Anger, bitterness, jealousy, resentment, pride and any other sin you care to think of always lead to brokenness and separation. It tears relationships apart. Think about any soap opera and the agony of brokenness is a major theme. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Jesus came in order to offer us a love that is unbreakable. When he died on the cross for us he made it possible for us to have a restored relationship with God which will last for ever, however fierce the opposition.
The future is full of questions and challenges but the person who has committed their life to Christ has nothing to fear. With Paul we can be absolutely convinced that whatever happens in this life, or the one to come, nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ.
QUESTION
How will the knowledge of your security in Christ affect you today?
PRAYER
Lord God, I thank you that I can never be separated from you. Amen
Photo – Silver Birch
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