If God is for us…
“What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.” – Romans 8:31-34
These are anxious times to say the least. Every new pandemic season seems to come with another conundrum and how schools are to open this fall hits so many buttons it is no wonder there are strong feelings from all perspectives. I love this passage from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. Having God as our advocate means that ultimately nothing can truly overcome us and separate us from the love of God which Paul expands upon in verses 38 and 39:
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This is a massive proclamation. This list is so long and thorough that it took two verses! If the Gospel text didn’t speak to me so insistently, I would have preached on this passage on Sunday.
Everyone is trying to figure out the best way forward in this difficult time. And as with most issues that are challenging and without a perfect answer, we all respond out of a whole lifetime of experience, influence, formation, and development. Inevitably, each lifetime of formation is different and what may seem obvious may not be so clear to others. For me, the idea that God is for us no matter what brings comfort and encourages me to see that God is for all of us, even those we disagree with. Further, it isn’t just that God is on our side, but God in Christ has done everything necessary to claim us as His beloved. We are marked as Christ’s own in our baptism once and for all eternity. The last sentence in the above is our whole hope. God the Son, Jesus Christ is constantly interceding for us. God is holding you up in love now and always.
There are many worrying possibilities ahead in this world, but we will get through this time. I pray that hearing the completeness of God’s love for you will bring comfort and assurance as well as encourage us to offer grace to others in this difficult time.
We love you and God loves you.