God’s Amazing Love Series
First of five reflections on the love of God
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? … 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 8:35, 38-39 NLT
The Bible is full of passages about God’s love for us. Yes, God is also our judge. Yes, there are times when He disciplines His children. However, the predominant and overwhelming message of the Bible—and what we need to know most—is that God loves. And His love lasts forever. That truth changes everything. Today, we begin a five-week series on God’s Amazing Love. It will take us all the way through February, the month with Valentine’s Day smack dab in the middle of it. Whether you have a human “valentine” or not, you do have God’s offer of a love that lasts. We’ll examine that today and marvel anew at the amazing love of God.
Paul asks a rhetorical question in Romans 8:35: “Can anything separate us from Christ’s love?” He fully and unequivocally answers that question at the end of Romans 8:39: “… nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In between, he goes to great lengths to underline this. He describes some of the most terrible and terrifying realities in this messy world of ours, and then he brushes them aside as too trifling to touch the deep, lasting love of God. Let’s look at them together.
Trouble or calamity. Who doesn’t have trouble and calamity in their lives? Our troubles range from home plumbing problems to arguments and estrangements in our families. Calamity includes acts of nature like earthquakes, hurricanes, snowstorms, tornados, or tsunamis. Guess what? God’s love lasts even when homes and villages and relationships do not.
Persecution, hunger, destitution, or danger. Okay, now we’re escalating even further. Those of us living in countries where we can still write blogs about Jesus have no clue what it’s like to be imprisoned or tortured or raped because we claim the name of Christ. Most of us are not hungry, no gnawing pains in our distended, starving bellies. We’re not destitute with no place to call our home and no bed on which to lay our heads. We don’t jump at every single sound, knowing that danger and death lurk in the shadows. But if that day should ever come to us as it has to thousands of believers around the globe? God’s love lasts even when comforts and security are completely decimated.
Death or life. And whether we die or live, God’s love lasts even then. In fact, those who have run to Jesus and asked for His saving grace can confidently rejoice that His love lasts forever.
Angels or demons, powers of hell, powers of the sky above or the earth below. Beings do exist that are not like us. Not human, not animal, not fish, nor fowl. They live in a spiritual dimension we see only through a blurred lens. And most of us are quite glad for that blurring, because even thinking about angels and demons is frightening. But even if an angel or a demon approached us, God’s lasting love would be right there with us for He made them. He is in charge of them. And we who are His are safe.
Our fears for today or worries for tomorrow. You know what? Even our own foolish selves and all our worries, anxieties, and imaginings cannot separate us from God’s amazing, lasting love. Even when we ourselves are the untrusting souls, even then His love lasts. Even then. Be comforted, dear friends. His love is not like ours. His lasts.
Oh, Father God, thank You for this needed passage in Your Word! We are so quick to think we somehow are the exception to the truth that You love us. Thank You for every possibility Paul mentions that underlines ever more firmly Your forever-lasting Love for Your foolish, wayward people. Help us to rest secure in Your love, Lord. And teach us to love like You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
You are loved,
Sharon
Sweet Selah Ministries
Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service
Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)
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4 Comments. Leave new
We are so blessed, not to have persecution, or hunger, and to have our safe homes, so many blessings. Even when we are “untrusting souls, His love lasts”. Thanks for this message.
I so agree! We are very blessed, both by our current comfortable lives and by His love that (thankfully) does not depend on our fidelity, but on His.
To Him who alone does great wonders, for His steadfast love endures forever. Ps 136:4. God’s promise of his everlasting love is what can fill us to serve Him each and every day and bring the love of Jesus to everyone we come in contact with. I am praying God’s love will pour out of me with the help of your study this month of February and beyond.
Debbie Allen
What a great goal and prayer, Debbie! May we “fill up” with His love as we meet with Him each day, so that we can pour out His love on others from the overflow!