Nothing Can Separate Us from Him

DAILY READING

Romans 8:38-39

DEVOTION/REFLECTION

Nothing Can Separate Us from Him

By David Thompson

I feel privileged to write to these two Romans verses. They are perhaps the best news after the life, death and resurrection of Christ that can be had. There have been times in my life when I felt condemned for the life I was living. I came to a saving knowledge of Christ in my mid-teens, and struggled with overcoming a lot of past "junk" in my life. This was not to mention the present and future "junk" that has come my way over the 50 years that followed that night. I came from a very legalistic religious background where there were more do's and don'ts than anyone should ever be expected to follow. I suppose that there were more for the Levitical Jews, but I bet my parents and relatives came in a close second. I learned early that sin separated us from Christ. 

What I found more recently was that although sin can do a number on our guilty consciences, it is not Christ that is separating from us, but us separating from Him. It can be a vicious circle of sin, feeling separated from Christ. Then often times doing worse sins, and going to Christ not out of love, but out of desperation. We can confess our shortcomings to Christ at any time and feel better. However, we are human and will likely do something again to make us feel guilty. The circular pattern makes us feel even worse in that we may wonder if Christ will forgive us the second, third, or the hundredth time. We can feel separated from God and the Sunday sermon can make it seem even worse. So what can we do to lessen this issue? The verses today can give us confidence and hope.

Romans 8:38-39 gives us a very strong promise that we can never be separated from Christ no matter what. The author, Paul, gives us two verses that can bring comfort when you seem far away from Christ. Paul uses a literary tool of naming some contrasting words that might bring up memories of just how you feel (felt). Words like "...death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future … neither height nor depth, illustrate just how distant the pair of words are from each other. Paul concludes in verse 39 stating those word pairs will not "... be able to separate us from the love of God." In other words, there is no circumstance or no sin that can stop God's love for us. In verse 37, it states that we are more than conquerors and absolutely nothing can change that. 

It is important that we go to Christ with our indiscretions and ask forgiveness for them. When we do that, Psalms 103:12 states that, "as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." What tremendous assurance of God being there at all times and in all circumstances to commune with us and forgive us of all issues. That is definitely good news. 

God, I pray that you will use these words to help your people today. We thank you that you are there for us no matter what happens. 

PRAYER PRACTICE

Lectio – Read today’s passage through once. Then spend some time praying and asking God to show you what you need to pay attention to in the text. Read it again. Now ask God to help you see what this text, and the part that has stood out, may mean for you. Don’t expect to get a clear word every time but always be ready to really hear from God through His Word.

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