05/19/2022
I am thinking today on the timeless nature of my relationship with Jesus; not on being either in or outside of time itself, but the unending nature of it. Do I truly understand His faithfulness and how incredibly deep His love is for me? Is my love for Him as far reaching?
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
Romans 8:35 KJV
Is my faith this strong? Is my love for Jesus able to endure all that life can throw at me? Will I be like Job when facing suffering and hold to God despite all pain and loss?
No person, thing, or situation can separate us from the love of Jesus... only ourselves. In His arms we rest for all time, and what lies beyond, if we choose to. The strength of my love must carry me into death itself. Paul goes on to write these words:
“As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Romans 8:36 KJV
I remember the video of the Coptic Christians being beheaded for their faith on a beach by ISIS. The scene was horrific, but had an unrealized consequence for the murderers... it demonstrated the depth of faith and love in Christ of those who were martyred. It showed their unrelenting love for Jesus Christ. Romeo and Juliet is a story that ends in tragedy. Two young lovers take their own lives out of love for one another; losing it in death. What happened on the beach that day was not a Romeo and Juliet story... there was no misunderstanding, there was no innocent heartbreak, and there was no lost love. What was witnessed was a scene in which lives were taken on earth and the loving souls within them were delivered to a God who waited in love for them. The men who knelt that day never doubted the love that awaited them.
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39 KJV
Is this my faith? Is this my love? Do I love as much as I am loved? Will I stand against all things that might separate me from the love of Christ my Savior? I know the faithfulness of Jesus; He reveals it to me every day. Our Father God is faithful beyond measure, and the love of Jesus is as well. Is there any wonder that Psalms 117 is only comprised of two verses? The reason is because this is absolute truth...
“Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!”
Psalms 117:1-2 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your unwavering love for me, and for your Son Jesus Christ who gave His life that I might find forgiveness and redemption in you. Lord, help me to be strong in my faith and love. Lead me as I face each challenge and help me to use them to strengthen our relationship. Never let me falter when faced by circumstances that might lead me from your side... let my faithfulness endure all things. Whether large or small, give me the perseverance and character I need to rebut them. I pray that my love for you conquers all that comes against it, and know that my greatest joy will be to rest with you in eternity.
Rich Forbes