DAY THIRTY-TWO - Thursday, March 25, 2021
Romans 8: 28-39
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
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.
This reflection is both consoling and challenging. I am challenged by this passage, in that it makes reference to a most disturbing tenet that God’s love is reserved for people who love God and accept Jesus Christ as God’s son. In the early part of the passage Paul writes that “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God”. He goes on to say that God “predestined” people and “called” others which suggests some people were chosen but not all. I have always found this idea to be troubling for I don’t accept that God does not love all people especially considering how many religions and belief systems there are in the world. I know that if I had been born in a different time and place I might never have even heard of Jesus, let alone believe he is the son of God. I do not feel any more worthy or entitled to God’s love, than people of other faiths. Did Paul believe there were specifically chosen people or was this letter a pep talk to people in Rome struggling against persecution? Perhaps the historical context explains this tendency to set the early Christians apart and fortify their resolve. In fact, the passage does not specifically say that non-followers are not loved, but the implication is there. I feel there is a fundamental contradiction between the vision of a God who selects some and not others and a universally loving God. However, having said that, the passage goes on to speak of the positive foundation of my faith in a universally loving God. I do believe that God’s love does pass all human understanding and his love is indeed, unshakable. This selection poetically tells us that we are forever safe in the love of God and protected by Jesus who is “interceding” on our behalf. What passage can be more eloquent and beautiful than verses 38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God.”
To accept God’s love truly brings me joy.
Brenda Walton (2016)
Romans 8: 28-39
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
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.
This reflection is both consoling and challenging. I am challenged by this passage, in that it makes reference to a most disturbing tenet that God’s love is reserved for people who love God and accept Jesus Christ as God’s son. In the early part of the passage Paul writes that “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God”. He goes on to say that God “predestined” people and “called” others which suggests some people were chosen but not all. I have always found this idea to be troubling for I don’t accept that God does not love all people especially considering how many religions and belief systems there are in the world. I know that if I had been born in a different time and place I might never have even heard of Jesus, let alone believe he is the son of God. I do not feel any more worthy or entitled to God’s love, than people of other faiths. Did Paul believe there were specifically chosen people or was this letter a pep talk to people in Rome struggling against persecution? Perhaps the historical context explains this tendency to set the early Christians apart and fortify their resolve. In fact, the passage does not specifically say that non-followers are not loved, but the implication is there. I feel there is a fundamental contradiction between the vision of a God who selects some and not others and a universally loving God. However, having said that, the passage goes on to speak of the positive foundation of my faith in a universally loving God. I do believe that God’s love does pass all human understanding and his love is indeed, unshakable. This selection poetically tells us that we are forever safe in the love of God and protected by Jesus who is “interceding” on our behalf. What passage can be more eloquent and beautiful than verses 38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God.”
To accept God’s love truly brings me joy.
Brenda Walton (2016)
