"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? {36} As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." {37} No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. {38} For we are convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, {39} neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:35-39 NIV)
What powerful words from Paul! We always read this scripture from the perspective of God’s love for us which is 100% true. However, I urge you to try reading this again from a reverse perspective of our love for God:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? {36} As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." {37} No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. {38} For we are convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, {39} neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Paraphrased: 35 Who or what extent of trouble can stop us from loving Christ ? Will trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword stop us from loving and being devoted to Him ?
Thought: What are the worst situations that we may individually come across in life due to which we may lose our faith and confidence in the love of God or make us forsake Him? Would it be the death of a loved one? Would it be cancer? Would it be prison ? Would it be ridicule from family or friends or extreme physical torture to deny Christ?
Paul says that none of these hindered him and must not hinder us. Infact in all of these, the Lord gives us the grace to conquer and overcome and stand strong (v37).
So once again, may we like Paul be able to say: no matter what life brings us, may our love, conviction and relationship with God be so strong that nothing (no physical or emotional pain of any kind even to the point of death...) will separate ourselves from the truth in Christ.
Liny Babu
About the author: Liny is a anointed social activist. She is currently working for an NGO raising awareness against human trafficking , abortion and pornography in the colleges in India .