Romans 8:38-39 NLT.
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.’
God Loves You!
Say this: “God Loves Me”. (Repeat as many times as needed).
Sometimes we take things for granted and miss the wonder of it all. The other day we took a drive out to a nearby country town in the hills with Sonia’s sister to pick something up for her. She had never taken the drive before. Sonia and I had plenty of times. On the way all we could hear from the back seat were words of wonder. “Wow, it’s so pretty out here!” “Just look at this rainforest we’re going through!” “That is such a cool house!” “Look at the flowers!” We were all in the same car travelling along the same ride, witnessing the exact same landscapes and scenery at the same time. It’s easy to miss the wonder of it all, especially when it’s familiar territory.
I remember a while ago travelling along a suburban back street seeing tourists who had barely pulled off the road to photograph some magpies. Magpies! If there are any Aussies reading this, you get it. They are just magpies, nothing special. In fact, many of us older Aussies have repressed memories from childhood of being attacked by nesting magpies and we still have forgiveness issues. Those tourists were mesmerized by magpies! It’s easy to miss the wonder of it all, sometimes we take things for granted.
“God loves you!” Sadly, something we don’t often hear in Church. Sadly, something we don’t often tell others; ourselves! God’s love for us can unfortunately become familiar and mundane, and it is easy to miss the wonder of those words.
Paul starts his declaration by saying, “And I am convinced…” This is not Paul crossing his fingers behind his back hoping what he believes is true. He is utterly convinced of God’s overcoming and conquering love. This is a love that Paul is banking everything on that cannot be threatened or overpowered or muted. Of this he is absolutely sure! Paul’s been there, and done that, and now there is nothing getting in the way of God’s love for him. It’s not just an intellectual agreement of God’s love for him, it’s a very real experience in his own heart.
Paul goes on with a list of things that could be seen as roadblocks and brick walls coming between us and God’s love…but he quickly rejects them all. None stand a chance against the love of God in Christ Jesus! Their all candles in the hurricane of God’s undeserved, unearned, inseparable, inseverable, undisputable L.O.V.E.
May our ears of faith be opened to this promise accompanied by Jesus’ promise spoken over His own in John 10:28-29: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” No one. No-thing. Did you hear that!? No one. No… One… Let it sink in; let it speak to your fearful heart in the midst of uncertainty and confusion!
Be fully convinced! God loves you…GOD loves you…Let it bring your heart to a place of thanks and praise. God LOVES you… Undeservedly, you’ll never earn it….. it’s an inseparable, inseverable one-way love. God loves YOU…Let it calm the storms of your worried mind and heart. Be convinced of God’s undisputable love – Nothing…. No-thing. No-one can ever separate you from God’s love. So next time someone reminds you of the wonder of things that you might be taking for granted remember this simple incontrovertible fact, “God Loves You” Isn’t it wonderful?!