Nothing Shall Separate Us
Good morning Immanuel. Our experience of distress is in no way affecting our place in Christ’s heart.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Romans 8:35)
The trouble with lists is that it’s easy to skim over them and miss something significant. A few years ago, I was struggling with severe anxiety, and as I read through Romans 8 one day, I got to verse 35, where Paul lists things that might think would rob us of God’s love. I must have read this dozens of times over the years and suddenly noticed a word in there I hadn’t seen before:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
There it was, staring at me: distress. Distress shall not separate us from the love of Christ. In the midst of it, it feels like it could. But there is Scripture telling me in black and white that my experience of distress was in no way affecting my place in Christ’s heart. Whatever else was being (or feeling like it was being) upended in my life, the love of Christ for me was entirely undisturbed. More than that, the presence of this verse must mean that Paul was writing under the guidance of a Savior who knew that, 2,000 years later, I would be reading this text in the heat of enormous distress. What a kind and wise Savior to anticipate our needs and to minister to them so clearly!
Monday Memo
MEN OF VALOR - Immanuel Nashville is honored to serve our friends at Men of Valor and to celebrate the graduating class. We have an opportunity to provide sides, desserts, and drinks. Learn more and sign up here!
BREAKFAST IN THE BREEZEWAY - On Sunday, August 6, we will host another Breakfast in the Breezeway with a unique opportunity to learn more about serving opportunities at Park Avenue Elementary. Let’s celebrate the kickoff of the school year in joyful participation. Sign up to bring a breakfast item here.
What time is the breakfast in the breezeway?
Truly helpful, thank you Pastor Sam 🙏🏼