There is a verse in today’s Bible reading with which we all struggle on occasion.
“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?” (Romans 8:35)
We love the idea of unending love.
We don’t love the idea of trouble, calamity, persecution, hunger, destitution, danger and threats of death.
If we have one idea, does that mean we won’t have the other?
Paul’s life and the lives of millions today proves that both can exist at the same time in the same life.
Christ’s love carries us through the trials, not simply to the trials.
As a child, when I was injured or emotionally wounded, did that mean my parents didn’t love me? Of course not.
In fact, they were often the ones helping me to find comfort and healing and understanding.
Faith is not a matter of living in a cocoon.
Instead, it is a matter of living in fellowship with the Father. It is a matter of living with an empowered, instructed, encouraged state of purpose that keeps putting one foot in front of another until one’s arrival in glory.
God’s love for us abides.
Let’s keep moving forward in serving Him with an abiding determination to build His kingdom until we move to the place with no more trouble, calamity, persecution, hunger, destitution, danger and threats of death.
A place where only love abides forever.
As always, I love you
Martin
