Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Romans 8:35
Because John Piper is still working on the DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 and 2 Timothy, and I slightly ahead of him, I am leaning on the Solid Joys daily devotion series, which today looks at Romans 8:35 and how Jesus Christ's love is present and powerful, and how it will - no matter what happens to us in this life - carry us safely home to Him to be with Him for eternity. Using Romans 8:35, John Piper describes three things about the love of Christ in this text:
- Christ is loving us right now; see 8:34 where Paul describes how Christ is alive, sitting on the right the right side of God in Heaven, and He is still loving us right now as He rules and intercedes for us.
- Christ's love for His people - His elect, those who He has saved - is effective in protecting us from separation; this is the same love from Ephesians 5:25 where Christ loves the church - we as believers are part of the church
- While Christ's love for us does not spare us from calamities in this life, we are sealed for eternity. Piper shares: "[d]eath will happen to us, but it will not separate us. So when Paul says in verse 35 that the “sword” will not separate us from the love of Christ, he means: even if we are killed, we are not separated from the love of Christ."
Comment and discuss this post.
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know that You are alive and love me every moment and always will. Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of the grace and mercies You have already poured out for me and continue to do so. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
