Our scripture this morning is Romans 8:31-39.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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.
Paul writes of the certainty of God’s love for us. The simple statement “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (v. 31) eloquently expresses His eternal and unchanging love for all of His children. In God we have all we could ever need.
Paul wants us to understand that God’s love is not something we can earn through any effort of our own, nor is it able to be broken by anything people do to us. His love for us is a gift, always available for us to accept. This is his point, that it is up to us to say “yes Lord” and receive the blessing of a relationship with Him.
There is a long list of earthly things that have no effect on God’s love for us. The sad truth is the only thing that can separate us from God’s love is us! God is always ready to wrap us in His loving arms and renew the connection we have been promised since the beginning.
Gracious God, we are humbled that You are willing to welcome us back, no matter what our circumstances. Renew a right Spirit in us and send us to share Your love everywhere. Amen.