Today’s reading is a little longer, but it’s so worth it! Let these words sink in as you read them.
Read from the New Living Translation
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn* among many brothers and sisters. <sup<30And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love31What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34Who 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.
35Can 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? 36(As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38And 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. 39No 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 8:28-39For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
Philippians 1:21
For other encouraging passages, read John 3.16-17; John 11; 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 4.16-5.10; and Psalm 90. – Pastor Dave
Go Deep
This is a topic that may hit home for you. Whether you’re afraid of losing someone you love or maybe you’ve lost someone, you’re not alone in feeling fear or dread when coming face to face with death.
In today’s video, Pastor Dave (from WAY-FM’s Prayer Wall) talks openly about this topic. He’s walked through this with some of his own friends and tells the story of one in particular that can really help as you battle your own fears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Y_yaiV7KY
Notes from the Life Application Study Bible
God works in “everything” – not just isolated incidents – for our good. This does not mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world, but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our long-range good. Not that God is not working to make us happy but to fulfill his purpose. Note also that this promise is not for everybody. It can be claimed only by those who love God and are called by him, that is, those whom the Holy Spirit convinces to receive Christ. Such people have a new perspective, a new mind-set. They trust in God, not in worldly treasures; their security is in heaven, not on earth. Their faith in God does not waver in pain and persecution because they know God is with them.
For me, my fear manifests itself through anger. I get angry when I can’t overcome in a situation, or can’t take power over something that has bound me up. I’ll tell you, I’ve been on a life changing journey and I am almost 6 months into leading a life without any type of substance. My way of coping through fearful situations in the past had been to turn to alcohol so there was a bit of binge drinking going. But I committed myself to a completely sober lifestyle and to rely on God the best I could. I say “the… Read more »