Sunday, April 19, 2020
During this very difficult hour in our nation, we have been advised (in some places ordered) to stay 6 feet away from each other to avoid spreading Covid-19.
This has given way to “virtual” everything:
- the covid non-handshake,
- covid non-hug,
- covid virtual-conversation,
- and covid seclusion.
But thank God, Jesus doesn’t have to keep His distance!
Romans 8:29-32 NIV
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
So the Apostle gives us many ways to know that God is FOR US:
- First, God had a plan.
- And secondly, God’s plan for us to be like His Son began when He CALLED us out of darkness into His marvelous light by turning to Jesus by faith.
- And thirdly, when we responded, He JUSTIFIED us—we were pardoned of all our sins through Jesus’ shed blood.
- And finally, having justified us, He will also one day GLORIFY us when we step into “the glory that shall be revealed,”—that is, the glorious place called heaven.
Notes
Romans 8:33-34 NIV
“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
Notes
Romans 8: 35, 37 NIV
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (Or coronavirus?) …
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Notes
Psalm 73:28 ISV
“… how good for me it is that God is near!
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge…”
Psalm 34:18 NKJV
“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, …”
Psalm 119:151 AMP
“You are near, O LORD [nearer to me than my foes],
And all Your commandments are truth.”
Isaiah 50:8 HCSB
“The One who vindicates Me is near;”
Notes
Isaiah 49:14-16 TLB
“… they say, ‘My Lord deserted us; he has forgotten us.’
15 ‘Never! Can a mother forget her little child and not have love for her own son? Yet even if that should be, I will not forget you. 16 See, I have tattooed your name upon my palm …’”
Notes
Romans 8:35 ERV
“Can anything separate us from Christ’s love—including Covid-19 or social isolation?”
The answer is NO!
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Notes
David wrote in Psalms 139 his own version of how impossible it is for God’s children to be separated from Him:
Psalm 139:1-10 ERV
1 Lord, you have tested me,
so you know all about me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up.
You know my thoughts from far away.
3 You know where I go and where I lie down.
You know everything I do.
4 Lord, you know what I want to say,
even before the words leave my mouth.
5 You are all around me—in front of me and behind me.
I feel your hand on my shoulder.
6 I am amazed at what you know;
it is too much for me to understand.
7 Your Spirit is everywhere I go.
I cannot escape your presence.
8 If I go up to heaven, you will be there.
If I go down to the place of death, you will be there.
9 If I go east where the sun rises
or go to live in the west beyond the sea,
10 even there you will take my hand and lead me.
Your strong right hand will protect me.”
Notes