September 17th - Reflection

Romans 8:31-39 (NRSV)
It is God who justifies

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. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,
"For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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.

Reflection
It's not about our action, it's about God's action and our reaction. How will you react to the love of God? You can turn away and make it on your own...up to a point. You can turn to God...but that doesn't guarantee a life without hardship, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword.

But, when we turn and face our Savior, believe and accept what he has done for us, nothing will pull apart that relationship with God...not death, life, angels, rulers, things present, things to come, powers, space, creation...nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It's about God's loving action of love through Jesus Christ. It's not about our action of being "good" that draws us to God. It's about our choice in believing and our reaction to that love of Christ. It's about becoming a disciple of Christ and listening to the call to action and going. It's about the love he has for you and the love you have for him. It's about that same love that radiates through our beings in expressions of love to our neighbors. It's about relationship and love and a call to action.

What's your reaction to God's love? Face the Savior, get up and follow, react to the call, live the love for God and for your neighbor. Nothing will separate you...nothing...Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as you teach me this love of yours, may it fill my being and radiate to my neighbor that they may see your love for all people and react to follow you. --- Amen