Verse of the Day 2/17

 

Romans 8:35, 37 (NLT)  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? ^{.... 37} No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

If we were to take a look at most of our prayers we would probably notice that we commonly ask for safe travel, good weather and good health (among other things) for ourselves and loved ones.  It is not wrong to do so.  But, when you step back you see that we are praying for a life free of worry or care.  What happens when things don't quite turn out that way?  After all, it is a jungle out there!

 

When we read the Bible we will see things like "when you face various trials" (James 1:2).  There are going to be troubled days.  We must understand that Jesus didn't promise a care free life, but that He would be there to see us through.

" If you are a believer, you must reckon on having your share . . .
  of sickness and pain,
  of sorrow and tears,
  of losses and crosses,
  of deaths and bereavements,
  of partings and separations,
  of vexations and disappointments
--so long as you are in the body. Christ never promises that you shall get to Heaven without these. He has promised that all who come to Him shall have all things pertaining to life and godliness; but He has never promised that He will make them prosperous, or rich, or healthy, and that death and sorrow shall never come to their family."  J.C. Ryle - 1879

Whether we face a day of smooth sailing or a day in the jungle, we should remember, in the words of Steven Curtis Chapman, "that the Lord of the gentle breeze is the Lord of the rough and tumble, and He is the King of the Jungle.  He will see us through to overcome the circumstances to eternal victory and until then, nothing is able to separate us from His love.

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Romans 8:35-39New Living Translation (NLT)

 ³⁵ 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? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep."^[a]) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

 ³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. ³⁹ No 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.