Nothing Can Separate Us From God’s Love
Romans 8:35 says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
These words may not describe our lives. But, let’s think about each of them for a minute. What in our lives can separate us if we aren’t aware of the importance of them. Most of our lives are lived in ordinary, daily routines.
So what about tribulation, distress, etc.? How do they affect you or me?
Let me list a few things that tend to separate us from God’s love. For most of our daily lives, we deal with ordinary problems. Here are a few of the little problems, as well as a few big ones, that can separate us from His love if we let them.
- Tribulation = trouble – faulty plumbing, car won’t start, stained clothes, flat tire, grocery shopping, staying home with a sick child, needy family or friend that takes your time, prodigal child, past sins, unknown tomorrow, washing dishes, doing laundry, going to work, burned dinner
- Distress = hardship, anguish – bills, shame of poverty, divorce, negative thoughts, Satan’s accusations, winter, snow, ice, running late, driving in unfamiliar area
- Persecution = harassment – criticized for faith, laughed at, shunned
- Famine = hunger – not enough food, going to food bank
- Nakedness = few clothes – 2nd-hand clothes
- Peril = danger – danger of losing your job, danger of losing custody of children, living in a dangerous neighborhood, snowstorm, tornado
- Sword = death threats, death of family member or friend, your impending death
None of the above can separate you from God’s love. If you are a believer and have placed your trust in Jesus Christ’s gift of salvation and have His life in you, you are safe in His love. The you that is deep inside your body is safe and sheltered in His love. Nothing can hurt that inner person. Nothing.
Jesus tells us in John 15 that we are in Christ. He is in God. And Christ is in us. That sounds like a really safe place to be all the time. He wants us to live in that place of love all the time. Not just when our feelings tell us it is true, but all the time. Most of the time it is an act of faith. Stepping out and believing it, acting like it is true. Because, whether we feel like it nor not, it is still true.
Words to light your path this week
- John 15:9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. NKJV
- Jeremiah 31:3 “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love NKJV
- 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. NKJV
- 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. NKJV
- 1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us. NKJV
- Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with whichHe loved us NKJV
- Ephesians 3:17-19 That you…may be able to comprehend…what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge
Remember – take one verse each day and marinate in it, soak in the truth of that statement letting it transform you.
Loving Father, We want to step out in faith each day believing that you really do love us and nothing can separate us from Your love. Amen
The Shepherd of Love – David Wilkerson
Just to let you know, I’m in the process of writing a small devotional on walking by faith. I will keep you posted on the process. It will be an ebook, so far. Hopefully, it will encourage you to ignore your feelings and step out on the water and walk by faith.
