This is N Hello there,
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James.
Welcome to this Lectio Divina Contemplation on Romans Chapter 8,
Verses 35 and 37 through 39.
You know,
As we go through our spiritual journeys for any given number of reasons,
There are times when we feel separated from God,
Or that God isn't hearing us,
Or that there is silence from God,
And it's unclear where God might be in our moment or situation.
This is not an unusual position to be in,
And you can rest assured that if you're feeling this way,
You're not alone.
There are others who have gone through this experience more than once,
Many times,
And I think all of us will experience it at least once in our spiritual walk.
But the thing that we can be clear about is that if God is in all places and is in all things as we see in Scripture,
If God's presence and God's Spirit,
The Christ of God,
Is in all and through all and within all and around all,
If God is the I Am that God says God is,
Then there really is no place we can go where God isn't.
Now there's reasons why we can't hear or can't see or can't feel God's presence in any moment in time and space,
But what we must always remember is that God is there.
And Paul's words here remind us of this fact,
That nothing can separate us from God's love,
Nothing at all,
Anywhere can distance us from God,
Because God is right there in the very depths and recesses of our own soul,
Of our own heart.
And so as you reflect on these words today,
As you contemplate this piece of Scripture,
I invite you to let that be your confidence and to build your hope and trust,
That despite what you may be feeling,
God is there.
And so God we ask today as we settle ourselves to reflect on these words,
That you would open our ears to hear,
Our minds to think clearly,
May our hearts receive these words as seeds in good soil and that as they are planted that they might find good root and grow and bring forth beautiful fruit for your glory where we are.
Amen.
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will hardship or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword?
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.
Amen.
.
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will hardship,
Or distress,
Or persecution,
Or famine,
Or nakedness,
Or peril,
Or sword?
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
As you rise from this time in contemplation,
May your eyes be opened to the presence of God.
May your ears continue to learn to hear the way God speaks to you,
And may the presence of God be known and felt where you go and where you carry God as you move in your community bringing hope and joy and love as God's Spirit works through you.
Amen.
.
.
