31What, then, shall we say in
response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how
will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is
God who justifies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ
Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the
right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is
written:
“For
your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep
to be slaughtered.”
(Psalm 44:22)
37No,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved
us. 38For
I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor
demons, neither the present nor the future,nor any powers, 39neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ever
had a rough day? Me, too. Week? Yep. Year? I guess so. Life? I sure
hope not. When trouble comes, where do we turn? When we're being
burdened on all sides, to whom do we look? When feeling like we're
being tromped down into a bottomless pit, by whom are we rescued?
This
is not a “cheer up; it's Christmas,” writing. I hope this reaches
much deeper than that. Everyone has had a bad day at least once; it's
just one of those things we have to shrug off. I'm talking about when
we feel surrounded by darkness, when every ounce of ourselves wants
to scream out, “GO AWAY!” to whomever comes around or calls. We
feel isolated, depressed, beat down, exhausted.........banished.
It's in those moments when these words from God ring most true. If
God is for us, then truly nothing can be against us.
God
is the one who judges, who calls us all to answer. Paul emphasizes
that Christ didn't just die; he was raised to life again! He is at
God's right hand! In trouble, hardship, persecution, famine,
nakedness, danger, and sword, WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH
HIM! Philippians 4:13, the main point in context is not “I
can,” it's, “through Christ.” Praise be to God the Father for
His grace for allowing us sinners to crawl towards Him and find rest
in His strength. Praise God for His love for accepting us in all of
our transgressions and weakness. Praise God for His justice and
righteousness in always holding true to who He is and judging the
world (us included) in all rightness and truth.
Nothing
can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord. Does this answer the question of once-saved-always-saved? No.
But it does mean that God will love us no matter what, and we can
always turn to Him for peace, love, and discipline, a very important
part of love. That is a true gift of God.
Praise
be to God our Father for who He is: Savior, Judge, unchanging,
righteous, holy, powerful, light.
“The
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
~John 1:5
Thank
You, God, for Your light. Thank You for Your hand, and might, and
power in rescuing us from ourselves. You sent Christ to be a willing
and perfect sacrifice. To live with us here on Your footstool, and to
die for us by our selfish, unloving hands. It is only by Your grace
that we can live. Only by Your power that we can breathe. Your love,
Your righteousness is truly amazing. Thank You for You. Amen.
