TGIF
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure 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.”
(Romans 8:34–39 ESV)
Sometimes…I feel like God has it in for me.
(Those of you who have never felt this way can stop reading now and just bookmark the page for when you inevitably will…)
The job lasted less than a week, the flu shot didn’t work, the kid’s having issues, friends and family members have their own struggles, and Christmas is right around the corner ready to assault me like a hiding mugger.
Ho, ho, ho…
Did I mention writers block when I have a book to finish?
Things have been so hard for so long that I worry about what I will have left if and when things turn around.
I feel like the writer in the verses above…being led like a sheep to slaughter.
I ain’t feeling the love, Lord…
I write all that mess because I know full well that many of you are going through tougher times than I am…and we need to hear truth that applies to us.
Listen up.
According to those verses on the top of the page our trials and hardships are part of the Christian experience and they are are not measures of His love for us.
We are loved passionately, fervently, completely, and eternally by God because we are in Christ despite all the circumstantial evidence to the contrary.
Now, here’s what I want you to try to get your soul around this morning…this is radical, but true.
If you are in Christ, then everything that is true about Christ is true about you in the eyes of God.
Your place in the kingdom and your place in the heart of God have nothing to do with your circumstances, your behavior, your attitude, or anything else.
They have everything to with Jesus…
God foreknew you…which means He chose to love you before creation and long before anything that is happening now.
He predestined you to be in Christ and called you to Himself, justified you by grace through faith, and already sees you as glorified…because you’re in Christ who is already glorified.
His love for you is not predicated on your actions, but on the action that Christ already took on your behalf.
Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.
Ever.
Period.
Someday, my battered, exhausted, faith shaken friends…we will know that we are much more than survivors…we are more than conquerers.
Today is just one more step toward that conquest, even though it may look like another defeat.
Take heart.
Take courage.
You are loved.
Make your own application…
Preaching that False heretical once saved always saved Doctrine huh? So many scriptures blow that False Doctrine out of the water!
Excellent Michael!
A friend of mine wrote recently: facts and truth are not the same thing. Our facts can change but truth cannot. Truth is unwavering, unchanging.
The facts of your life currently may not be ideal, but the truth you write of here is glorious indeed.
Well said, my friend.
Thank you Jim, Laura…just trying to help folks find some hope.
Beautiful Michael. I know this good word minister to many. Praying for you.
As for comment number 1…. Michael shares from his heart, wanting to encourage others in the goodness of the Lord and who we are in Him and by His grace…… and you come along a poop on it. What’s wrong with you?
Thanks Nonnie.
Don’t worry about the critics…this one is for those with ears to hear some hope.
Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.
Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.
Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.
Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.
Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.
Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.
…That’s my blogging for today. (Well done Michael 🙂 )
Thank you, Josh…that’s some good blogging you did there. 🙂
Good word Michael. These verses confirm that those who are in Christ will indeed experience seasons of tribulation, persecution, and other trials yet life circumstances don’t change God’s Love for His people.
We pray for those in the body going through difficult times during this holiday season. May this be an opportunity for all of us to draw closer to Him.
Living a life of sin sure can separate you from God. Jesus died for all men not just the Elect
Haven’t you guys read the Bible, behavior and conduct do matter and sin leads to death not life. Your name can be removed from the book of life unless your saying the Word of God lies. There are too many warnings about falling away to day once saved always saved. By our own freewill we can choose to walk away from living with Christ and being with God in relationship
The Bible says everyone sins, therefore, Northstar sins.
Northstar says sin separates a believer from God.
According to his own system, Northstar is separated from God.
I’m sorry you believe that, Northstar. There is no condemnation in Christ.
Sorry Josh,
The Bible contradicts Michael and you, there is a difference between sinning which we all do than from living in Sin, have some common sense
Is it Bible, or common sense? I referenced to scriptures in my last post. You have referenced none, except to say “the Bible” and “use common sense”.
Thank you, Francisco…
And explain to me the difference between sinning, and living in sin? Is there a number limit? 17th time and you go to Hell?
Northstar,
The Bible I quoted in the article says “nothing” can separate those in Christ from the love of Christ.
If you want to correct the Bible, that’s on you.
This isn’t a thread for debate…it’s for broken people to receive comfort and assurance.
Start your own blog and make all the corrections you feel necessary on it.
Sorry I engaged the argument, Michael. Your post was great.
Michael,
Show me in the Bible where Jesus died for only the Elects sins?
Josh,
Thank you, sir…and like I said, don’t worry about the critics.
I just want some people to know they’re loved despite the circumstances they may be in today.
Isaiah 59:2
Romans 6:23
The wages of Sin is death, sounds like separation to me. Make sure you have accurate interpretation of Gods precious word
Solomon,
The scripture you referenced is the condition of every person before they are in Christ.
My article is about the condition of the same people after they are in Him.
We’re done now.
1 Peter 5:8
why worry about the Devil if were A okay and once saved always saved
John 3:3
One.must become Born Again
Northstar, I think that it’s important to define what salvation or the term “saved’ means. The notion a saved person has the freedom to live in sin as they please is at best a misrepresentation of the gospel and at worst a false and evil doctrine. Saving Faith is always accompanied by repentance and obedience, if it doesn’t then by definition it is not saving faith.
Let’s not forget that salvation is not an “alter call” but a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that regenerates a spiritual stillborn into a new creation now indwelt by His Holy Spirit. The Word irrefutably says that salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9)
Finally a born again creation with His Holy Spirit no longer has the freedom to persist in sin or to remain unreconciled but rather has the freedom to repent, to obey, and to persevere in Him.
what a gift.
Michael, Thank you. You know my struggles.
I am sorry for the on going and additional stresses and trials in your life.
Lord have mercy.
I’ve always been intrigued by the word “who” in this verse, rather than ‘what”…. your comments?
Geeze, Northstar..
Paige,
Much love to you my friend…
‘Who’ is anyone who thinks that through means, threat, (or theology) that they have the ability to separate us from the love of Jesus if we are indeed found in Him.
Paul is simply going out of his way to say that no one and nothing has that power…because God takes good care of His kids and has never “unadopted” a single one of them.
You’re in Him, my friend…and you’re eternally safe and loved by Him.
We will get home before dark…
Thank you…..it’s an on going battle….my ‘thorn’ perhaps. Love you.
1 Timothy 6:20
Talks about those who strayed from the Faith, kinda refutes the ol once saved always saved deal.
Michael: as one writer to another, you may wish to achieve your escape from ‘writer’s block’ by doing the extremes:
– Visit a Zen garden. Force yourself to stay there, until the gravel glistens, and even the sound of the crickets becomes overwhelming. No analysis allowed. Hear. See. Breathe. This lets your senses overcome…. simply be overwhelmed by your senses.
– Visit a wonderful Drag Show in the Gay Community. Laugh. Be amazed at the art. This is a parody of modern matriarchal and sex-oriented society. This lets your sense of humor and the amazement of love and community to overflow… simply laugh and love in return.
– Worship with a UU church. Or, if you wish, a Catholic Church. I visit on occasion a modern Wesleyan church for the fun Vineyard, CC music. This allows a different perspective to overflow… simply worship.
Oh, I doubt you will become a Buddhist, gay, or UU or Catholic. That’s not the point at all. Writers need to switch senses to break the block. The analytical writer needs to laugh, and watches Futurama; the humorist goes and takes a nap, then visits neglected relatives; the op-ed writer (who is anti-this and anti-that), goes and hands out food at the local homeless shelter.
Break to a new set of senses. And then, sit down and write whatever comes to mind. Out of 5 pages, 1 good one will appear. Repeat, and then 2 good ones will appear. And, then, the block slips away.
Hugs! Good luck in your writing! Caryn
Visit a wonderful Drag Show in the Gay Community<<<
Oh yeah, that will really help a Christian author be inspired to write a book about Christianity.
I think Michael should spend some time at Crate Lake instead.
Crater Lake
Methinks Northstar has way too much confidence his/her position in God’s Kingdom, and wants to disturb anyone else who might have even the slightest confidence of God’s ability to keep sinners saved by grace alone.
Michael,
Time for a computer fast.
Break your writer’s block with the good old fashioned analog approach of getting a favorite pen or pencil, a sketchbook or binder of unlined paper and start writing stream of consciousness words that are related to where you last left off, while you freely doodle lines, shapes, scribbles. That physical stuff is more expressive and liberating than the computer, you won’t be tempted to check Facebook or email, and you’ll avoid texts. Just return to focus by stripping away the bombardment of others’ output and reach deep within to reconnect with the wellspring bubbling up from the presence of The Holy Spirit indwelling you.
Here’s a little encouragement from one of the visual masters,
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
~ Pablo Picasso
Excellent post Michael!!
Or, you could emply the Herman Melville cure to writer’s block:
Read someone you know is a bad writer, get disgusted, and wrote something better.
Works for me.
*write
I don’t know if this is considered ecumenism, but I am happy to receive scripture based words of encouragement from any Christian tradition. 🙂
Hebrews 6:4-8
Another scripture to refute once saved always saved false doctrine. Talking about falling away and those bearing briars and thorns as works and there end is to be burned. Not really supporting eternal security here is it?
Hebrews 6:10-12
We are encouraged to labor and work to minister to the Saints and not be sluggish and to show diligence to the full assurance of Hope until the End.
Solomon,
I asked that you stop on this thread.
You’ve made your way around moderation and I’ve tried to be gracious, but now I’m going to nuke you.
Good word here, thank you. I especially like the idea that we’ll get home before dark.
Northstar’s observations remind me of a couple things that i heard today … God chooses bad people to accomplish His purpose simply because that’s all He’s got to choose from… and Martin Luther (loosely quoted): God doesn’t need our good works, but people do…
if salvation keeping was up to us, you’d better believe we could lose it, but there is another factor in the mix…. His grace, abounding in omniscience and omnipotence resulting in His chosen, wonderful collection of Redeemed ones…
i don’t understand these folk among us who want to quantify and score-keep the lives of their fellow Believers – God is perfectly able to do His own scorekeeping… if you can’t encourage, don’t admonish… or so it seems to me
FWIW – faith and salvation are not interchangeable terms, i don’t believe – reading and pondering here again
Michael, you greatly blessed someone with your writing today…
just received an Email from someone to whom i’d forwarded Michael’s TGIF posted above… someone who is tracking along similar relentless testings and betrayals – their response: “THAT is a great post!”
Believe it, this person is not given to complimenting sentimentalities – they were seriously blessed – praying for you both
Em,
Thank you for letting me know…and thanks for praying.