NOTHING CAN STOP GOD FROM LOVING YOU

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MARCH 15, 2023

TOPIC: NOTHING CAN STOP GOD FROM LOVING YOU

BY T. O. BANSO

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-37 New King James Version).

Love is an important subject in the Bible whether the love of God towards man, the love of man towards God, or the love of man towards fellow human beings. The Bible tells us of God’s love for man and, no doubt, the most popular scripture on this is John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The Bible also tells us to love both God and fellow human beings. Indeed, Jesus described the commandment to love God as the first and great. “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40 New King James Version). Mark 12:30-31 says a similar thing. These are very clear words of Jesus.

In Romans 8:35-37, Paul said, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (New King James Version). Some Bible translations start this passage with “what” instead of  “who”. In other words, this passage is saying who or what shall separate us from the love of Christ?

So what does the Bible mean by who/what “shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Some Bible commentators believe it means who/what shall separate us from our love for Christ and not who/what shall separate us from Christ’s love for us. But some commentators believe the opposite. Yet, others believe that the meaning is not clear and it could be either of the two interpretations.

The New Century Version renders Romans 8:35-37 thus: “Can anything separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can troubles or problems or sufferings or hunger or nakedness or danger or violent death? As it is written in the Scriptures: ‘For you we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.’ But in all these things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us.” 

Troubles and challenges of life do sometimes bring separation between people in relationships. Some couples have been separated by troubles and trials. Couples who claimed to love each other before are known to have gone their different ways because of one problem or another. Paul’s question in this passage is whether troubles, problems, sufferings, hunger, nakedness, danger, or violent death can separate us from the love Christ has for us or separate us from our love for Christ, whichever is the correct interpretation. Paul also referred to Psalm 44:22, when he said, “As it is written in the Scriptures: ‘For you we are in danger of death all the time’” (New King James Version).

But let’s go back to who/what shall separate us from Christ’s love for us or our love for Him. Will Christ or God stop loving you because of any negative thing that happens to you or something you have done? No. God loves you eternally and unconditionally. God loves you so much that He became man and died for you on the cross and He can never stop loving you. But it is possible for someone to stop loving Him or not love Him. If you’re not born again, you should respond to His love by giving your life to Jesus. You should reciprocate His love by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

Who/what shall separate us from the love of Christ? Should anyone think that because he is experiencing troubles, problems, suffering, hunger, and so on, it means that Christ no longer loves Him? Such a thought will be wrong. Experiencing any of these is not an indication that Christ does not love a child of God.

The New Living Translation presents the passage this way: “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, ‘For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.’) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:35-37). Note this phrase: Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? No. We have overwhelming victory over all the negatives listed and every other through Christ who loves us. We are more than conquerors or we have full victory through God who showed His love for us.

Whatever you’re going through, don’t doubt Christ’s love for you. We are living in a sinful world and we, sometimes, experience some negative things. This should never be taken as proof that Christ has stopped loving us. Paul gave a straightforward answer to the question he asked earlier: “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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 New King James Version). Note Paul’s assurance and confidence in God’s continued love. Nothing shall be able to separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The EasyEnglish Bible puts Romans 8:38-39 this way: “I am sure of this. Nothing can stop God from loving us. Death cannot do that. Life cannot do that. Angels cannot do that, nor can demons do that. Nothing that happens to us now, or that will happen in a future time can do that. No powerful spirits can do that. Nothing that is high above the world can do that, nor anything that is deep down below the ground. Nothing else in the whole universe can stop God from loving us. Because of our Lord Christ Jesus, we know how much God loves us.” Note the phrase: Nothing can stop God from loving us. Nothing can stop God from loving you.

In this world, you may experience troubles, suffering, hunger, and the like but it doesn’t mean God doesn’t love you or doesn’t love you anymore. Neither should you allow that to make you stop loving God. What is waiting for the children of God in eternity is superior to the best this world can offer. Paul said in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (New King James Version).

We should always see whatever troubles or trials we face in light of eternity. Paul said, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 New King James Version).

God’s love for you doesn’t exempt you from pain or trials. This earth, as it is now, is not your home. Don’t stop loving God because of what you’re going through. The Apostle Peter said, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13 New International Version). Earlier in 1 Peter 1:6, Peter said, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while” (New Living Translation).

Also, the Apostle James said, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 New King James Version).

Never doubt God’s love for you because of anything unpleasant you’re experiencing. God loves you not because of what you have done or have not done. He won’t stop loving you because of what you haven’t done or you have done. He chose to love you. “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9 New King James Version).

Nothing can stop God from loving you. Never stop loving Him. If you have not responded to His love for you through Christ Jesus, do so today by surrendering your life to Him. God’s love for the sinner doesn’t mean he will not go to hellfire if rejects Jesus. Nothing can stop God from loving you.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, thank You for loving me eternally and unconditionally. I appreciate You, Father, because You will never stop loving me. Nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ. Holy Spirit, help me to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. I pray that all those who are yet to respond to the love of God through Christ Jesus will come to Jesus today.

(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org