Daily Scripture: Romans 8:28 Furthermore, we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose;
35 Who will separate us from the love of the Messiah? Trouble? Hardship? Persecution? Hunger? Poverty? Danger? War? 36 As the Tanakh puts it,
“For your sake we are being put to death all day long,
we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.”[a]
37 No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, 39 neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.[Footnotes:
Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:23(22)]
Reflection Questions:The apostle Paul did not believe God caused evil things, but he knew they happen. “Trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword”—he’d faced all these and more (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Yet his list was not a complaint. He wrote it to say, “In all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us” (verse 37). No matter what life throws at us, we can march with Paul and a long line of believers in God’s eternal victory parade.
- Paul asked a compelling question: “Who will separate us from Christ’s love?” His wording assumed that the answer was “Nobody and nothing!” What situations are most likely to leave you feeling separated from God’s love? What spiritual “anchors” keep you connected to God’s love, hope and peace, even when times get difficult?
- Today’s scripture did not say, as people sometimes think, that “all things” are good—they’re not. It says God, who is always good, can take even painful and difficult things and bend them to serve a good purpose, if we are willing to put them in God’s hands. Can you look back and see times when God has brought good out of hard things you have faced? What are you facing right now that is painful, frustrating or scary?
All-powerful God, whatever comes my way, hold me close in the shelter of your love. Thank you that, through you, I can win a sweeping victory in “all these things.” Amen.Insights from Darren Lippe
Darren Lippe helps facilitate Journey 101 “Loving God” classes, guides a 7th-grade Sunday school class, is a member of a small group & a men’s group, and serves on the Curriculum team.
Today’s passage is a great reminder that we cannot be separated from the love of God. Last week, in 6th Grade Sunday School we reviewed one of the more famous instances of someone desperately trying to separate himself from God as recorded in the Book of Jonah. (It is always a treat to see the boys take their KidsCOR understanding & build on it.) Let’s take a look:
A violent storm rocks Jonah’s get-a-way-boat. Jonah realizes it is his fault, so to save the other sailors he volunteers to be thrown into the sea. A great fish swallows Jonah. After 3 days God commands the fish to cast him back on shore. God’s love tracked Jonah even in the depths of his predicament and brought him safely back to the surface. So, even in the midst of our great valleys, God’s love will pursue us to walk beside us & guide us back home.
So, at times we may feel like a fish-out-of-water, floundering in our faith walk, as though there was a great barrier reef between God & ourselves. Just remember that God loves us too much to throw us back. So don’t be like Jonah & clam up, but accept God’s love, hook-line-&-sinker, & see how God can help you achieve His great porpoise in your life. (Hey, Captain D’s…nah, I’m not going to take the bait[ Editor.])
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Today’s passage is a great reminder that we cannot be separated from the love of God. Last week, in 6th Grade Sunday School we reviewed one of the more famous instances of someone desperately trying to separate himself from God as recorded in the Book of Jonah. (It is always a treat to see the boys take their KidsCOR understanding & build on it.) Let’s take a look:
- Aside: Jonah’s story encourages a great deal of humor like, “What did Jonah call a poker game at his house? Fish & Chips.” “What did the baby whale say to his Mom at the dinner table? What? Jonah-sticks again?” Or the comic of the angel who is fishing & calls over his shoulder to God, “I have Jonah on Line 2.”
A violent storm rocks Jonah’s get-a-way-boat. Jonah realizes it is his fault, so to save the other sailors he volunteers to be thrown into the sea. A great fish swallows Jonah. After 3 days God commands the fish to cast him back on shore. God’s love tracked Jonah even in the depths of his predicament and brought him safely back to the surface. So, even in the midst of our great valleys, God’s love will pursue us to walk beside us & guide us back home.
- Aside: Naturally this part of the story raised the question amongst the boys, “Is it true?” All things are certainly possible with God, but I would submit something definitely occurred. Jonah was hardly a man to be respected in Nineveh. (Recall he was a conquered Israelite & a very unenthusiastic preacher.) Yet even before he traverses the city, Jonah’s 1 sentence message, “Just 40 days more & Nineveh will be overthrown.” convinces the entire population (including the King) to don sackcloth & cover themselves in ashes. Something about Jonah was so compelling that it made a city of 500,000+ people repent & plead for God’s forgiveness.
So, at times we may feel like a fish-out-of-water, floundering in our faith walk, as though there was a great barrier reef between God & ourselves. Just remember that God loves us too much to throw us back. So don’t be like Jonah & clam up, but accept God’s love, hook-line-&-sinker, & see how God can help you achieve His great porpoise in your life. (Hey, Captain D’s…nah, I’m not going to take the bait[ Editor.])
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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