I spent some time stewing on Romans 8:28-39 this past weekend, as it was the focus of the sermon series and bible studies at my church, and while it is a piece of scripture I know well (I have clung to it many times when it felt like my world was falling apart or the sky was falling down on me in some way), it is such an importantly true and uplifting piece of God's Word to reflect back on. If you have not read it and digested it, do it now! To think about how Big and powerful God is -- above anything I can see, feel or come up against -- starts to blow my mind when I think about it too long. And to think that that God Loves little me unconditionally and unceasingly fills me with hope and peace knowing that no matter my circumstances, God is there and will use them for my good, even when my feelings or doubts tell me otherwise.
Here's the reason for the title of the post -- I will admit that I am having trouble digesting part of it, as my human mind can't comprehend how part of it can be true. In verse 35 Paul asks, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" In the context of the text, it proves to be a rhetorical question, with the implied answer being no one. No one and no thing can separate us from the love of Christ. Then he goes on to talk about things that can't and won't separate us from the love of Christ. He lists hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword. I'm with him on hardship, persecution, danger and even sword. I know -- and have experienced with some of those things (haven't come up against a sword yet) -- that God's love is bigger than those things and is there when we face them, promising us help, strength and deliverance in God's time and plan. Here's my beef with Paul, and my question for God -- I don't see where God is in famine and nakedness. Having spent time in areas ravaged by famine and poverty, I have faces and hearts that come to my mind's eye when I think of these things. And they are beautiful, precious faces and hearts, many of whom have cried out to God in their plight. And God promises in Matthew 6 that He will hear them, answer them and provide for them. And yet, too many die each day from malnutrition and go without clothes.
So I guess this is where faith and humility step in. Humility knowing that He is God and I am not, and in that my view is infinitely smaller than His and forever tainted with sin, which keeps me from seeing as He sees. And faith that, having seen and felt God's love triumph circumstances in my life and use them for good, He can and will do the same for those who are going without in ways I can't begin to imagine. I just hope that on that day I reach the pearly gates, He grants me the grace to answer what to Him must seem like some ridiculously silly questions.
Here's the reason for the title of the post -- I will admit that I am having trouble digesting part of it, as my human mind can't comprehend how part of it can be true. In verse 35 Paul asks, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" In the context of the text, it proves to be a rhetorical question, with the implied answer being no one. No one and no thing can separate us from the love of Christ. Then he goes on to talk about things that can't and won't separate us from the love of Christ. He lists hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword. I'm with him on hardship, persecution, danger and even sword. I know -- and have experienced with some of those things (haven't come up against a sword yet) -- that God's love is bigger than those things and is there when we face them, promising us help, strength and deliverance in God's time and plan. Here's my beef with Paul, and my question for God -- I don't see where God is in famine and nakedness. Having spent time in areas ravaged by famine and poverty, I have faces and hearts that come to my mind's eye when I think of these things. And they are beautiful, precious faces and hearts, many of whom have cried out to God in their plight. And God promises in Matthew 6 that He will hear them, answer them and provide for them. And yet, too many die each day from malnutrition and go without clothes.
So I guess this is where faith and humility step in. Humility knowing that He is God and I am not, and in that my view is infinitely smaller than His and forever tainted with sin, which keeps me from seeing as He sees. And faith that, having seen and felt God's love triumph circumstances in my life and use them for good, He can and will do the same for those who are going without in ways I can't begin to imagine. I just hope that on that day I reach the pearly gates, He grants me the grace to answer what to Him must seem like some ridiculously silly questions.
