I Am Convinced!

Reading: Romans 5-8 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. 39 Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 NLT) This is a Theology of Hope! In Romans 6 Paul reminds us we are all sinners and that God’s grace is our only hope. In Chapter 7 he so clearly describes the struggle each of us faces between the old nature and our new nature in Christ. In Chapter 8, Paul sums it up: Life is challenging, we still struggle, bad things happen, but nothing can take us out of God’s love! Paul faced more challenges than most. Paul’s commitment level was 100%. Paul won some battles and lost some battles. But Paul was convinced of God’s love for him, and that kept him going. This morning, I asked myself, “Am I convinced?” Am I as convinced as Paul that nothing in heaven or on earth can separate me from the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus? I am painfully aware of my sinfulness! I am gratefully aware of God’s forgiving love and the presence of his Holy Spirit to help me make the choices that lead to daily victories in the on-going battle between flesh and spirit. I am sure the ability to live above myself is not in me, but in his Spirit who lives in me. Are you convinced? Am I convinced? Are we convinced that nothing in heaven or earth can separate us from the love of our Father? The answer is a resounding… Prayer: “Yes!” Yes! Father, I am convinced that you love me and that your Spirit lives in me and prompts me and leads me and challenges me to live higher and better and more like someone who is convinced of your steadfast, unfailing love every day! Father, thank you for your “inseparable” love for me. I’m determined to live like I’m convinced you really, really love me. Amen!