The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOD’S STEADFAST LOVE" for Sunday, 29 May 2016 with Scripture Romans 8:31-39

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOD’S STEADFAST LOVE" for Sunday, 29 May 2016 with Scripture Romans 8:31 What, then, are we to say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare even his own Son, but gave him up on behalf of us all — is it possible that, having given us his Son, he would not give us everything else too? 33 So who will bring a charge against God’s chosen people? Certainly not God — he is the one who causes them to be considered righteous! 34 Who punishes them? Certainly not the Messiah Yeshua, who died and — more than that — has been raised, is at the right hand of God and is actually pleading on our behalf! 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.”[
Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:23(22)]
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.
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This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.[1 John 4:10 (NIV)]
In my sixth year of pastoral ministry, I went through a divorce. It was complicated, and I lived through several years of shame and despair. Yet during this painful experience, I came to know God’s miraculous grace. God’s unconditional love was evident in the support of my family, my friends, and the church I served. Thanks to their love and encouragement, I was able to continue with my pastoral responsibilities, caring for others even during the divorce process.
I am living proof of the healing that God brings through grace. In my heart, I have only gratitude because my life is a gift from God. God’s unconditional love heals, restores, and makes all things new.
This experience gave me a new perspective so that I could serve as an instrument of grace to others. I learned that God expects us to love others unconditionally, as God loves us. Nothing, neither our failures nor our flaws, can separate us from the love of God. (See Rom. 8:38-39.)
The Author: Eric A. Hernández Lopez (Puerto Rico)
Thought for the Day: God’s grace can bring us all new life.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for your unconditional love. Help us to love others as you love us. Amen.
Prayer focus: PASTORS GOING THROUGH DIVORCE

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