Romans 8:38, 39 - Omnipotent Love.
Romans 8:38, 39 (NLT) And I am convinced
that nothing can ever separate us from Gods
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 Gods 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.
INTRODUCTION
Gods love is eternal. These verses
contain one of the most comforting promises in all
Scripture. Believers have always had to face hardships
in many forms: persecution, illness,
imprisonment, even death. These could cause them to fear
that they have been abandoned by Christ. But Paul
exclaims that it is impossible to be separated from
Christ. His death for us is proof of his
unconquerable love. Nothing can stop Christs constant
presence with us. [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
A few days ago. The darkness seemed
suffocating as I laid blurry-eyed and sleepless. I felt
as if I was choking on grief. Surely, all
believers have been there - crying out in agony to the
God of the universe, demanding some kind of
explanation, desperate for that peace that surpasses all
understanding, though it seems to have passed by us.
But isn't it arrogant to believe I am
somehow out of Jesus's reach? I was reminded of this
when I am cuddled up with my family watching one
of our all-time favorites, Anne of Green
Gables. Anne tells Manila that she is in the depths
of despair, asking for sympathy, only to be
hushed by Manila's stern reply: 1 have never
been in the depths of despair. To despair is to
turn one's back on God."
In that same way, when I weep, I must
remember that I am not alone. Jesus is there crying
with me, holding me together when everything
falls apart, bottling up my tears (Psalm 56:8;
Psalm 147:3). There is nothing stronger than our
Savior and His love for me. And at the end of the
day, that's really all I have to hold onto, a
truth that cannot be shaken or taken away. Gwen
Ford Faulkenberry
Faith Step: In prayer, give Jesus
everything, and rest in the peace of knowing He has good
plans for you, plans to make all things beautiful
in His time. Reflect on all the goodness and
mercy you have received, and give thanks.
[Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Triumph Through Trust
There are two ways to respond to
adversity: discouragement or trust. The problem with
giving in to discouragement is that it only makes
things worse, for with it may come bitterness,
anger, jealousy, revenge, and so forth. We may even
try to escape through drugs or alcohol. But do
any of these solve the problem? No!
God has a better way - the way of trust.
Sometimes He may show us that we were in the wrong.
When that is the case, we need to confess it,
repent, and seek His forgiveness. Sometimes,
however, we can only accept what is happening and ask
God to help us endure it and triumph over it.
One of the best ways to overcome
adversity, I've found, is to praise God right in the
middle of the turmoil. Turning to God's Word will
also encourage us; many of the Psalms, for
example, were written in the midst of suffering and
adversity. Follow the Psalmist's example: "Bless the
Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits"
(Ps. 103:2).
Its easy to praise after the fact when
we receive the healing, the restored
relationship, and the financial windfall. It is a true
and mature faith that praises God in the midst
of the trial and trust Him even before the
outcome is revealed. [Hope for Each Day by Billy
Graham]
It is necessary to maintain a living
connection with heaven, Wrestling with appetite and
passion unaided by divine power will be
unsuccessful; but make Christ your stronghold, and the
language of your soul will be, "In all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him that
loved us." Said the apostle Paul, "I keep under my
body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by
any means, when I have preached to others, I
myself should be a castaway."
Let no one think he can overcome without
the help of God. You must have the energy, the
strength, the power, of an inner life developed within
you. You will then bear fruit unto godliness, and
will have an intense loathing of vice. You need
to constantly strive to work away from
earthliness, from cheap conversation, from everything
sensual, and aim for nobility of soul and a pure and
unspotted character. MS. 4a, 1885. MM143,4
Prayer is essential in order to receive
strength to contend with the powers of darkness, and
to do the work allotted us. Our own strength is
weakness, but that which God gives is mighty and will
make everyone who obtains it more than conqueror.
2T203
When Christ is abiding in the heart, you
will not be light, chaffy, and immodest, but
circumspect, and reliable in every place, sending forth
pure words like streams from a pure fountain,
refreshing all with whom you come in contact.
If you decide to continue your idle talk
and frivolous conduct, go into some other place
where your influence and example will not be so
widely felt, contaminating other souls. What you
all need is such a sense of the purity and
holiness of Christ as will lead you to despise this
pretense of religion which blesses no one, gives no
peace of conscience, no repose of faith. MM144,5
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
I have called you by name; you are Mine.
No matter how isolated you may sometimes feel,
you belong to Me! I have redeemed you by paying
the full penalty for your sins. Nothing can
separate you from My loving Presence. I called you to
Myself in the most personal way: reaching down into
the circumstances of your life, speaking into
the intricacies of your heart and mind. Although
I have vast numbers of followers, you are not
a number to Me. I always speak to you by name.
In fact, you are so precious to Me that I have
inscribed you on the palms of My hands.
When world events are swirling around you
and your personal world feels unsteady, don't
let your mind linger on those stressors. Tell
yourself the truth: "Yes, this world is full of
trouble, but Jesus is with me and He is in control."
It is this but Jesus factor that makes all the
difference in your life. Change the subject from
problems to My Presence many times daily by
whispering, "But Jesus and looking to Me. (Isa.
43:1; Rom. 8:38, 39; Isa. 49:16) [Jesus Today by
Sarah Young]
My eyes are on those whose hope is in My
unfailing Love. To enjoy abundant Life, it is
essential for you to have hope. However, many people
indulge in false hopes and find themselves
increasingly disillusioned as the years go by. So I urge
you to choose well the object of your hope. The
best choice is: My unfailing Love. From the time
you first trusted Me as Savior, nothing -
including death, life, things present or things to
come - can separate you from this Love.
When you follow My divine guidelines, you
can enjoy the Peace of My Presence. I am
everywhere and I see everything, but My eyes are
especially on those who are putting their hope in Me.
Such people are ever so precious to Me, and I
watch over them vigilantly. This does not mean I
shield them from all adversity. It means I bless
them with My nearness in good times, in hard
times - at all times.
So persevere in placing your hope in My
perfect Love. Look up to Me in the midst of your
moments, for My eyes are indeed on you! (Psa. 33:18;
Rom. 8:38, 39; 2Th. 3:16) [Jesus Today by Sarah
Young]
Relax in My presence, knowing that
nothing can separate you from My Love. The
worst-case scenario in your life - that I might stop
loving you - is not even in the realm of
possibility. So rejoice that you don't have to perform
well enough to earn My Love, or to keep it. This
Love is pure gift, flowing out of My own perfect
righteousness. It secures your connection to Me - your
Savior - for all eternity.
Since the worst thing imaginable is not
possible, you can relax and live more abundantly. When
things are going well in your life, I want you to
enjoy those good times fully - without worrying
about what is on the road ahead. When you are
facing tough times, I will help you and strengthen
you with My Love. Even though you live in a
world where trouble is inescapable, you can be of
good cheer because I have overcome the world!
(Rom. 8:39; John 10:10; 16:33) [Jesus Today by
Sarah Young]
A cheerful heart is good medicine. You
have every reason to be cheerful, because I have
overcome the world. I have conquered it and deprived
it of power to harm you through My victory on
the cross. Moreover, nothing you will ever
encounter along your life-path will be able to
separate you from My Love. As you ponder these
glorious truths about all I have done for you, let
good cheer fill your heart and radiate from your
face.
A joyful heart will improve your health -
spiritually, emotionally, and physically. So fill your
mind with thankful thoughts till your heart
overflows with Joy. Take time to praise Me for all
that I am - the One from whom all blessings flow.
Let Me fill you with My Light and Life, for I
designed you to be full of heavenly contents. As
these divine nutrients soak into the depths of
your being, they strengthen you and enhance your
health. Be of good cheer! (Pro. 17:22; John 16:33;
Rom. 8:39) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
Let my unfailing Love be your comfort.
One definition of "comfort" is a person or thing
that makes you feel less upset or frightened
during a time of trouble. Because you live in such
a broken world, trouble is never far away.
There are many sources of comfort in the world,
yet only one of them is unfailing: My Love!
Other sources will help you some of the time, but
My tender Presence is with you all of the time.
My perfect, inexhaustible Love is not
just a thing that makes you feel less upset;
its also a Person. Nothing in all creation can
separate you from Me. And I am inseparable from My
Love.
As My cherished follower, you can turn to
Me for comfort at all times. Since you have
this boundless Source of blessing " Me - I want
you to be a blessing in the lives of other
people. You can comfort those in any trouble with
the comfort you have received from Me. (Psa.
119:76; John 16:33; Rom. 8:38, 39; 2Co. 1:3,4) [
Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
My love chases after you every day of
your life. So look for signs of My tender
Presence as you go through this day. I disclose
Myself to you in a vast variety of ways - words of
Scripture just when you need them, helpful words
spoken through other people, "coincidences"
orchestrated by My Spirit, nature's beauty, and so on. My
Love for you is not passive; it actively chases
after you and leaps into your life. Invite Me to
open the eyes of your heart so you can "see" Me
blessing you in myriad ways - both small and great.
I want you not only to receive My
bountiful blessings but to take careful note of them.
Treasure them and ponder them in your heart. Thank Me
for these ways I show up in your life; write
some of them down so you can enjoy them again and
again. These signs of My Presence strengthen you
and prepare you for difficulties on the road
ahead. Remember that nothing in all creation can
separate you from My Love. (Psa. 23:6; 119:11; Luke
2:19; Rom. 8:39) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
Nothing in all creation can separate you
from My Love. Pause and ponder what an
astonishing promise this is! You live in a world where
separations abound: wives from husbands, children from
parents, friends from friends, childhood dreams from
adult realities. But there is one terrible
separation you will never have to face: isolation from
My loving Presence.
I want you to cling to Me with tenacious
confidence. This gives you strength to cope with the
uncertainties of living in such a broken, unstable world.
Anxious thoughts can assault your mind and fill you
with fear if you forget that My Love will never
fail you. When you find yourself feeling afraid,
grasp My hand in childlike trust. Rest in the
protection of My Presence, and remember that perfect
Love drives out fear.
The greatest wealth on earth is minuscule
compared with the riches of My boundless Love. Yet
this is My free gift to all who follow Me. How
priceless is My unfailing Love! (Rom. 8:38, 39; Isa.
30:15; 1Jo. 4:18; Psa. 36:7) [Jesus Always by Sarah
Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Romans 8:38, 39 - Omnipotent Love.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201116-1155.html
John 3:16 - The Love of God.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201111-1036.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
