Good morning,
When Paul sat down to pen his letter to the believers in Rome, he knew that he was writing to a group of people surrounded by all sorts of political intrigue and the pressures that come with living in a high stress, world class city. From all we can tell, Paul wrote this letter on his third missionary trip and his life up to then had been marked by the joy of ministry as well as the challenges of enemy opposition for year after year. His back was scarred by countless beatings and the rest of his body was showing the wear and tear of his faithful ministry. But what’s so amazing about what he wrote was that his letter was filled with loving lessons and a heart deeply in love with the God who called him, and Jesus his Savior, who had led him through all the challenges that had come his way. These challenges taught him that when God said that he loved him, God really meant it. When Jesus said that he would lead and protect him, Jesus was always there keeping his word.
By the time he got to the part of his letter that we know as Romans 8, his heart was overflowing with the love he shared with the God who cared. He was writing about what he knew to be true from years of experience. As his mind flowed with the freedom and truth that marked his life with Jesus, Paul wrote down his unshakable convictions about the love of God. He knew that nothing could ever separate us from God’s love. If we die, then we are living with him. If we are still alive here on earth, then Jesus will be with us. If we are being protected by God’s holy angels, we are safe. If we are being attacked by demons, our loving Savior is still standing there with us. When we are overwhelmed by fears about today or tomorrow, he knew that God’s Holy Spirit was there to deliver us and hold us tightly in his loving embrace. Paul really knew at the deepest level of his spirit that nothing in all creation would ever be able to separate him or any of God’s family from the love of God. He knew it for sure because of what Jesus, his Savior and Lord had willingly and lovingly done for us on the cross. Dear Lord, will you please lead us to this rock solid confidence in the love of God as well.
Romans 8: 38 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. 39 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.
Roy Wisner
