Pastor's Weekly Word

I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Do me a favor. Cut this passage out and put it in your pocket. It is that kind of passage. Paul spends his entire letter to the Romans approaching and responding to this one single statement. In the chapters leading up to this one, Paul beautifully and poetically woos us with the love of Christ. In the chapters that follow, Paul paints the picture of a world saturated with the love of Christ. As one pastor says it, “Paul stakes everything on God's goodness. That is also the heart of the gospel which he preaches.” If there is ever a passage to pull out when you find yourself struggling or lost, this would be it. So do me a favor, and put it in your pocket.

With all that is going on in the world, we cannot be reminded enough of the unstoppable, immeasurable, completely unconditional love we have been offered in Jesus Christ. It is an offer we receive by faith, one that we experience in relationship, and one that we are called to exemplify in our actions to others. Put this passage in your pocket. Pull it out when you are unsure about life or are feeling distant. Read it, and read it again. Then stake all you have on the goodness of God in how you live life and treat others.