Read This Carefully

"What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who is against us?

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all,

how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?

God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns?

Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised,

who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ?

Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution,

or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Just as it is written,

“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,

nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing,

will be able to separate us from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I was a bit frustrated after yesterday's bible study - I'm just being honest here - and I think I know why. I am poorly communicating something and this morning I want to straighten that out.

God's plan is personal and is driven by love.

Sometimes I think I want to emphasize the fact that God is in control so much that I forget to emphasize His love. The passage above does not replace the word "love" with "plan," (as in, nothing can separate us from the plan of God) but it uses the word "love" purposefully. Why? Because God really does love us. He really does want a personal, intimate relationship with each one of His children. He really has sacrificially met our need. He really does have a motivation behind His covenants and His actions.

We are not simply part of a plan that God is obliged to keep because of His character. He is holy. He is immutable. He is omniscient and just, righteous and true, faithful and forgiving, almighty and sovereign. And He also loves with a love that is so far outside of our comprehension...

I am thankful for the love of God and that I am securely bound to Him because of His character and His will, because left to myself, it would be impossible to attain.

Thank you, Father, for including me in your story. May all the glory and honor and praise be to You alone.