Scripture text for this week is Romans 8:18-39
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.” These verses contain some of the most comforting promises in all Scripture. I found myself drawn to them this week after watching the news and shaking my head at all the sorrow, fear, pain, anger and Godless behavior going on all around us.
We are currently facing adversity of epic proportions. Watching the news on any channel brings about fear and anxiety. Satan and his minions use fear as a means of control. Worry, fear, and anxiety can overwhelm us with a thick shadow of darkness, controlling our every move and decision. There is so much turmoil going on around us today: wars, persecution, racism, violence, crime, natural disasters, terrorism, economic uncertainty, unemployment, and most certainly Covid-19. Protests have gone from peaceful to violent and hateful. So many people are full of hate and expressing their anger in frightening ways. It is a fearful time.
We fear for our safety. Even political differences have erupted into volatile events that have many attempting to squelch the ideas and even free speech of others in order to demonstrate one's good character of the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue. Many do not seem to recognize that evil men dwell in high placers of power. The media has been actively attempting to influence our ideas and behavior.
Yet in all of this we must remember that there is only ONE source that we should look to in order to gain perspective and directions on how to proceed with our lives. One place to look for comfort and be reminded of the great love God has for us, the Gospel. Romans offers peace and direction for us, reminding us that God is in control. Absolutely nothing, whether natural on this earth, or supernatural from heaven or hell, could ever cause God to stop loving us.
- How do you feel as you read verse 19? For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. Do you wait in eager expectation? why or why not?
- How does the Holy Spirit help us in our weakness? verse 26 - In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
- In what ways are we more than conquerors? verses 37-38 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.
Define Me
He doesn't use a pitchfork
He
doesn't have a tail
He comes disguised as fear and lies
To
remind you when you've failed
He doesn't wear a red suit
And he
doesn't smell like smoke
He sneaks around 'til he finds your
doubt
And that's where he makes his home
But when he comes for you
All
you gotta do
Is
take a look at the devil right square in the eye
And tell him I
have believed you for the very last time
Devil, I know you've been
lying to me
You do not define me
'Cause all of your power has
been swept away
Your
threats are as empty as Jesus' grave
So devil, go get behind
me
You do not define me
He knows the ways we're different
Where
we're tempted to choose a side
Takes the beauty in our
diversity
And he'll use it to divide
And he'll split us over
doctrine
Or the color of our skin
And when we fight with fear
and hate
He's the only one who wins
But when he comes your
way
Just put him in his place
One Name above all names
Defines who
I am, allows me to say that
I've got the victory
Over the
enemy
One God above all gods
Who knows who I am, and gives what
I've got and
I've got authority
To make the devil flee
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Ross King / Jonny Diaz
