| |
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” ) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 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. 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. (Romans 8:31-29)
_____
Do you sometimes doubt that you are worthy? Do you sometimes feel down about life, under spirtual attack or just convinced that God must have forgotten about you? Well, He knew you would feel that way sometimes and He wrote you a little note. I've copied a portion of it above, but you can take a look at the entire chapter to get the full message. Do you get it? He knew that when you had struggles, when you were broke or hurt or lost, that the devil would try to convince you that your Father must not love you. He told you that it wasn't true before the thought ever came into your head. He does love you. He loves you so much that He was willing to die for you. He loves you so much that no matter what you do, He will welcome you home with open arms. Just as the father of the prodigal celebrated his safe return. In John 10:11 Jesus tells us of His love and his willingness to die for us when he says "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep." He is your Good Shephard. If you lose your way, He will not rest until he finds you and brings you home. You need never doubt His love because it is perfect in every way and does not fail.
Do not listen to the voices that say you are unworthy and remind you of your every sin. None are worthy without grace, but you are redeemed and made worthy by the sacrifice of your loving God. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. (Romans 8:1-2)
When you have doubts, when fear sets in and you wonder how God could possibly accept you into His kingdom, call you His child, meditate on these passages and let the Lord's very words written to you bring you comfort.
|