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Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

What are you afraid of?

The question that the gospel of grace puts to us is simply this:
Who shall separate you from the love of Christ?

What are you afraid of?

Are you afraid that your weakness could separate you from the love of Christ?
It can't.

Are you afraid that your inadequacies could separate you from the love of Christ?
They can't.

Difficult marriage, loneliness, anxiety over the children's future?
They can't.

Negative self-image?
It can't.

Economic hardship, racial hatred, street crime?
They can't.

Persecution by authorities, going to jail?
They can't.

The gospel of grace calls out:
Nothing can ever separate you from the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You must be convinced of this, trust it, and never forget to remember.
Everything else will pass away.
Faith will become vision, hope will become possession,
but the love of Jesus Christ that is stronger than death endures forever.

Brennan Manning
Reflections for Ragamuffins, page 136

see also: reflections

Stronger

What makes you weak, He is stronger

“Ready for some good news? . . .

Jesus Christ is stronger!

Stronger than my fears about the future or my shame over a past that cannot be altered
though I wish so much I could do some things differently.

Stronger than my tired prayers with well-worn phrases and weary pleas.
Stronger than my need to know now, and have the trial terminated.
Stronger than the enemy of my soul who would discourage me with my own failings
and disillusion me with the faults of others.

Such a simple truth—Jesus Christ is Stronger.
‘Stronger than what,’ you ask?
Stronger than whatever would cause you doubt or discouragement today.”

—James McDonald, “Jesus Christ is Stronger”





Hebrews 13:5 NLT
"I will never fail you. I will never abandon you."
So we can say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?"

You Are Not Alone

 You are not alone—
For God is with you.

You are not defenseless—
For God is your protector.

You are not inadequate—
For God is your sufficiency.

You are not useless—
For God has a purpose for your life.

You are not worthless—
For God sent His Son to die for you.

You are not without hope—
For God has a place prepared for you.

You are not unloved—
For God loves you with an everlasting love.

You are not rejected, or abandoned—
For God calls you His own.

Roy Lessin

see also: reflections

He Has Said, So We May Say

Hebrews 13:5-6
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. 
For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 
So we may boldly say:  "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?"

I want you to notice what the Bible says, 
He Himself has said…
So we may boldly say. 
God says something, so you can say something.

What does God say? 
He says He will never leave you. 
He says He will never forsake you. 
As a result you can say,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

When you understand that God will never leave you or forsake you, you can live without fear.
And that freedom from fear will be reflected in both your actions and in your speech.

What are you facing today? 
Would you be afraid if God was standing beside you saying,
"It's alright. I am here"? 
Well He is with you! 
He said He would never leave you or abandon you! 
You may not see or feel Him, but He is with you—now and always.

It is time to start acting and speaking like you believe it.

Boldly say, "The Lord is helping me!  I will not fear!"

Bayless Conley

Enjoy God’s Presence

You will never go where God is not.
Envision the next few hours of your life.
Where will you find yourself?
In a school? God indwells the classroom.
On the highways? His presence lingers among the traffic.
In the hospital, the boardroom, the living room, the funeral home?
God will be there.

Acts 17:27 says, “He is not far from each one of us.” Each of us.
God doesn’t play favorites. All people can enjoy God’s presence. But many don’t.
They plod through life as if their only strength was their own.
As if their only solution comes from within, not from above.
They live God-less lives.
Lay claim to the nearness of God. Grip God’s promise like the parachute it is.
Repeat it to yourself over and over.
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”
(Hebrews 13:5).

Max Lucado
From You’ll Get Through This