Youth · Day 6 of 7
Nothing Can Separate
Read: Romans 8:28-39 (KJV)
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Read the whole chapter ›What it means
Some days it feels like everything is against you. Paul asks, 'If God be for us, who can be against us?' He is not saying nothing bad will ever happen. In verse 35 he lists tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword. Real trouble. Many believers he knew faced all of it. His point is that none of those things can cut you off from the love of Christ. Think about the things that can make you feel unloved: a breakup, a friendship that falls apart, a parent who is not around, a failure you cannot undo, a comment section full of cruel words. Paul goes even further. Not death, not life, not angels, not things present, not things to come, not any other creature 'shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' That covers everything. God's love for you is not based on your mood, your performance, or your circumstances. It is anchored in what Jesus did. Verse 28 promises that all things work together for good to them that love God. Not everything that happens is good, but God is able to work it for good. If you are hurting today, reach out to a parent, pastor, or trusted adult, and hold on to this: you are still loved.
Key verse
“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, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)
Journal it
- What situations make you feel most unloved or alone?
- Rewrite verses 38 and 39 in your own words, adding things from your own life that cannot separate you from God's love.
- How have you seen God bring something good out of something hard?
Write your answers in a notebook or the notes app on your phone.