Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – October 24, 2014
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:35, 37
Tragedy can strike life like the touch down of a tornado or the detonation of a terrorist bomb. Famines, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis all gain momentum in the last days. There are wars and rumors of wars. Indeed, hardship does not discriminate between the rich or poor, the educated or uneducated, or the righteous or unrighteous.
What happens to our faith when circumstances come crashing down around us like the collapse of the walls in our home? Do we persevere through the floundering of our finances and the relational wreckage left behind in the wake of a divorce? It’s easy to be a Christian when life is on cruise control, but real life has twists and turns that require trust.
Thanks be to God— nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! His love is a bridge over troubled waters, His love is a ladder out of the pit of pride, His love is the resilience to rise above the pain of rejection, His love leads us peacefully through the valley of the shadow of death—indeed the love of Christ conquers all circumstances!
“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
Do you know of anyone who has lost everything? Perhaps they are a brother or sister in Christ who lives hundreds of miles away, but still need a helping hand, financial relief and the undergirding of persistent and passionate prayer. When one part of the Body of Christ suffers, so the entire Body suffers. It’s out of the ashes of adversity that our Savior Jesus is on exhibit to offer eternal life to those trapped in their temporal world.
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (Romans 15:30).
The tragedy of suffering is the Lord’s opportunity to bring relief. He releases the army of the righteous to serve in unrighteous situations. The window of hard times opens for a moment so the Church can be the Church, and all the world can see the compassion of Christ at work—quietly, but boldly, believers bring help on earth and hope in heaven. You are more than conquerors of tragic circumstances through Christ who loves you!
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16).
How can I lean into the love of the Lord during lean times and seek others to love?
Related Readings: Ephesians 3:17-18; 2 Corinthians 5:14, 13:14; 1 John 3:23
Post/Tweet today: God’s love leads us peacefully through the valley of the shadow of death—His love conquers all circumstances. #wisdomhunters
Additional Resource: Chip Ingram- Overcoming Relational Pain, 20 minute audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC2TWaXuQHI
Order our new book, The Way of Wisdom: A Journey Towards Spiritual Growth, just out October 1st! Boyd’s one minute book video- http://bit.ly/1nhZ2bt
