Verse of the Day 2/24
Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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. English Standard Version (ESV)
We've considered over the past couple of days how we are called to pray, virtually in all circumstances. We have also considered the power of prayer as exhibited in the lives of such people throughout the Bible as Elijah, Moses, David and Jesus. Today's verses come from a passage, a chapter which is probably my favorite chapter in the Bible. Along with Hebrews 11 and it's "Hall of Faith" it is a place I turn to in the Bible when I need to be reminded that God is in control, that he is there for me and I am to trust Him in and He will see me through "all things".
Earlier in the passage in verse 35 the questions is raised "who shall separate us from the love of Christ" and goes on to list pretty much the gamut of circumstances that challenge us and our faith. Will any of these succeed against us and separate us from His love? The answer as stated emphatically at the beginning of today's verses is NO.
One of the phrases or concepts that continually comes to me as I read through this passage are the "all things" statements. In v.28 we have "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose". Verse 32 reminds us that God sent Jesus for us and will "graciously give us all things" that we need. In today's verses states that "in all these things", these circumstances, these trials and challenges in our lives we are "more than conquerors".
David Jeremiah writes, "Even though we experience trials, Paul wrote, we are "conquerors" in Christ. But "conquerors" wasn't enough; Paul needed a stronger word. So he used a very rare Greek word, hupernikao. Huper is the basis of our English word "hyper"—it means above, beyond, or exceedingly. And nikao means to be victorious. Together as one word, they mean "more than conquerors" or "exceedingly victorious." And that's what Paul says the Christian is in Christ. Through Christ, the believer is triumphant over every trial and tribulation in life. No wonder he writes that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:39).
Hyper is a word often used as a prefix to describe something beyond the ordinary or to the extreme such as "hyper-velocity". Instead of being overcome, we are overcomers, we can live victoriously, to the extreme even. But it starts with Jesus and faith in Him.
His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith they, like a whirlwind's breath,
Swept on o'er ev'ry field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith they, like a whirlwind's breath,
Swept on o'er ev'ry field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
Faith is is the victory!
Faith is is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
Faith is is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
Blessings,
Mike
Romans 8:37-39The Message (MSG)
31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
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