1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:04,130 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,810 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We are so glad to 3 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 2: have you listening with us here today. Today's topic is 4 00:00:18,420 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 2: about how you cannot be separated from God's love. We 5 00:00:22,410 --> 00:00:39,480 Speaker 2: will return after a brief message from our sponsor. Nothing 6 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,780 Speaker 2: can separate you from God's love. Written by Leah Gerard. 7 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: Read by Rochelle Alberti. Bible Reading For I am convinced 8 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:54,529 Speaker 2: that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither 9 00:00:54,590 --> 00:00:58,350 Speaker 2: the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height 10 00:00:58,410 --> 00:01:01,690 Speaker 2: nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be 11 00:01:01,790 --> 00:01:04,410 Speaker 2: able to separate us from the love of God that 12 00:01:04,470 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 2: is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8.38 If you've 13 00:01:12,500 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 2: ever felt unloved or abandoned by anyone here on earth, 14 00:01:16,580 --> 00:01:19,180 Speaker 2: it can be quite discouraging how quickly it can have 15 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,900 Speaker 2: you believing that maybe even God rejects you. When people 16 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,209 Speaker 2: are mean or hurtful or broken relationships leave you feeling 17 00:01:26,250 --> 00:01:29,410 Speaker 2: as though you don't belong anywhere, you might assume that 18 00:01:29,470 --> 00:01:33,190 Speaker 2: God is also far removed. Or maybe there's a general 19 00:01:33,230 --> 00:01:36,270 Speaker 2: sense of paranoia that the whole world is turning wicked 20 00:01:36,290 --> 00:01:39,780 Speaker 2: and and God will surely abandon it. This worry can 21 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,420 Speaker 2: tempt you to distance your heart and wallow in dread. 22 00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:46,900 Speaker 2: It's also possible that when you or I have hurt 23 00:01:46,940 --> 00:01:50,830 Speaker 2: someone else, or hurt ourselves, we can be afraid to 24 00:01:50,870 --> 00:01:53,809 Speaker 2: bring our mistakes to God for fear of losing His love. 25 00:01:55,050 --> 00:01:59,990 Speaker 2: For times like these, or any time you're battling loneliness, fear, guilt, 26 00:02:00,150 --> 00:02:06,420 Speaker 2: or shame, Romans 8.38-39 is a bulb of truth. This 27 00:02:06,530 --> 00:02:10,079 Speaker 2: compassionate and eye-opening portion of the Apostle Paul's letter to 28 00:02:10,100 --> 00:02:14,900 Speaker 2: the church in Rome serves as a promise. Paul wants 29 00:02:15,260 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 2: all believers to know that no life event, timing, distance, 30 00:02:19,820 --> 00:02:24,060 Speaker 2: external force, spiritual powers, or even death can tear you 31 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:29,730 Speaker 2: out of God's loving care. His embrace is unshakable and eternal. 32 00:02:31,510 --> 00:02:35,049 Speaker 2: As an aside, I don't believe Paul intends these verses 33 00:02:35,070 --> 00:02:38,500 Speaker 2: as a pass. to allow evil or sin free reign. 34 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,739 Speaker 2: He isn't simply stating, God stays no matter what you do, 35 00:02:43,020 --> 00:02:47,330 Speaker 2: so do whatever you want. He is, however, painting an 36 00:02:47,410 --> 00:02:51,790 Speaker 2: amazing portrait of an ever-present love, vast enough to send 37 00:02:51,850 --> 00:02:55,030 Speaker 2: His only Son to die for us while we were 38 00:02:55,110 --> 00:02:59,530 Speaker 2: still sinners, Romans 5.8. And he says he is convinced 39 00:02:59,590 --> 00:03:06,100 Speaker 2: of it because he experienced God's radical and transformative mercy firsthand. 40 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:12,020 Speaker 2: The truth is, God never rejects you. Even when you 41 00:03:12,060 --> 00:03:15,380 Speaker 2: inevitably sin, He is always inviting you to run to 42 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,340 Speaker 2: Him with a repentant heart and know that He will 43 00:03:18,380 --> 00:03:23,250 Speaker 2: receive and forgive you. He offers constant, unchanging love that 44 00:03:23,290 --> 00:03:27,730 Speaker 2: doesn't waver. This love of God that is in Christ 45 00:03:27,770 --> 00:03:33,510 Speaker 2: Jesus our Lord also doesn't require impossible perfection, but rather 46 00:03:33,530 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 2: delights in the way you're made. You don't have to 47 00:03:36,940 --> 00:03:40,820 Speaker 2: perform for God or keep earning His love. He knows 48 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:45,690 Speaker 2: and sees everything about you and loves you anyway. Paul 49 00:03:45,970 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 2: also includes neither the present nor the future in his 50 00:03:49,220 --> 00:03:51,890 Speaker 2: list of things you may fear will separate you from God. 51 00:03:52,830 --> 00:03:54,890 Speaker 2: This means you can trust God to be with you 52 00:03:54,930 --> 00:04:00,130 Speaker 2: today and every tomorrow. No matter what is happening now 53 00:04:00,750 --> 00:04:05,650 Speaker 2: or what transpires in your future financial status, family plans, health, 54 00:04:06,210 --> 00:04:10,420 Speaker 2: or anything you hold dear, God's love for you is secure. 55 00:04:11,740 --> 00:04:14,780 Speaker 2: You can also take comfort in knowing that absolutely no 56 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 2: evil power in this world is greater than God. In fact, 57 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 2: 1 John 4-4 reminds you, Greater is he who is 58 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,790 Speaker 2: in you than he who is in the world. Furthermore, 59 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:31,490 Speaker 2: John 16-33 explains that Christ has already overcome the world. 60 00:04:32,890 --> 00:04:37,050 Speaker 2: So if you're ever feeling unlovable, unworthy, or lonely, and 61 00:04:37,110 --> 00:04:40,650 Speaker 2: are wondering if God still loves you, hold on to 62 00:04:40,710 --> 00:04:44,940 Speaker 2: Romans 8, 38, 39. God's love isn't based on your 63 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 2: fallibility or your accomplishments. It's a gift of His grace 64 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:55,190 Speaker 2: that's unstoppable because you are in Christ. As a believer, 65 00:04:55,550 --> 00:04:58,450 Speaker 2: God has grafted you into the vine of Christ so 66 00:04:58,470 --> 00:05:01,870 Speaker 2: that you can branch out confidently by the power of 67 00:05:01,950 --> 00:05:08,469 Speaker 2: His unbreakable love. intersecting faith and life. The next time 68 00:05:08,550 --> 00:05:11,300 Speaker 2: you start feeling like God only loves you and you're perfect, 69 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:17,580 Speaker 2: try recalling a time when God pulled you through any disaster. Remember, 70 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 2: as you look back, a sign from God that showed 71 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 2: you that He was holding you and loving you. As 72 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,890 Speaker 2: you focus on His steady love, you can offer a 73 00:05:26,950 --> 00:05:30,490 Speaker 2: prayer of thanks and gratitude for a God that's bigger, 74 00:05:30,930 --> 00:05:35,529 Speaker 2: more powerful, and more loving than than anything else in 75 00:05:35,850 --> 00:05:46,170 Speaker 2: all creation. Further reading Psalm 136, 26 Jeremiah 31, 3 76 00:05:46,170 --> 00:06:00,190 Speaker 2: Zephaniah 3, 17 John 3, 16 Thanks. 77 00:05:55,450 --> 00:05:58,349 Speaker 1: For listening to today's devotional. If you liked what you 78 00:05:58,370 --> 00:06:00,570 Speaker 1: heard today, we want to make sure you know about 79 00:06:00,630 --> 00:06:04,490 Speaker 1: our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. When you follow Your 80 00:06:04,529 --> 00:06:07,730 Speaker 1: Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, you'll get a 81 00:06:07,810 --> 00:06:11,070 Speaker 1: brand new prayer and devotional each day, so your days 82 00:06:11,130 --> 00:06:14,799 Speaker 1: begin in conversation with God. If you're looking to grow 83 00:06:14,860 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: in prayer or start your day with your heart focused 84 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,860 Speaker 1: on the right things, search for Your Daily Prayer in 85 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: your favorite podcast app and be sure to follow the 86 00:06:24,810 --> 00:06:27,830 Speaker 1: show so you get a new prayer delivered straight to 87 00:06:27,890 --> 00:06:33,659 Speaker 1: you each morning. Thank you.