October 19, 2021 — Romans 8:26–39

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

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.” Romans 8:26-39

Romans 8:31 and following — well, Paul hits the highlight of his writing and his theology — meaning there is nothing more powerful than these words: “What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else. It is God who justifies. It is Christ Jesus, who died…who indeed intercedes for us.  …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.”

My friends, if G-d is for us — then nothing can take G-d away from us — it is not possible to be separated from the love of G-d. Oh, life can make us feel as if G-d has forgotten about us. The trials and tribulations of this life can make us feel as if Christ has abandoned us and try to make us believe that the Holy Spirit has decided that we are not worthy. But that is not G-d — that is simply life getting in the way of our relationship with Christ. Those feelings are the devil trying to get between us and G-d. NOTHING can separate us from the love of G-d in Christ Jesus…..live it, learn it, love it.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, nothing can separate us from your love and the love of the Father. Remind us of that love every day. Amen

Pastor Dave

October 18, 2021 — Song of Solomon 6:1–8:14                                                                                                    

“Where has your beloved gone, O fairest among women? Which way has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you? My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture his flock in the gardens, and to gather lilies. I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he pastures his flock among the lilies.” Song of Solomon 6:1-4

“I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the fields, and lodge in the villages; let us go out early to the vineyards, and see whether the vines have budded, whether the grape blossoms have opened and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love. The mandrakes give forth fragrance, and over our doors are all choice fruits, new as well as old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.” Song of Solomon 7:10-13

Song of Solomon has been interpreted in both Jewish and Christian traditions as mirroring the love relationship between G-d and G-d’s people. The principal actors are G-d and Israel — and Christ and the church. Today, biblical scholars see this text in a literal sense as celebrating a wholesome sexual relationship between man and woman.

If we look at this text as the relationship between Christ and the Church, we can say that Christianity is calling us to go abroad into the fields; and she, the Church, has Christ with her. Walking in the fields, doing ministry in the community needs to be driven by the Holy Spirit if Christ is to be there. The phrases express the desire of Christ’s presence everywhere — at home and abroad, in the city and the fields. Christ’s desire is to have the Gospel spread in the world. In the barren parts of the world, in our communities, in our country, we see what looks like uncultivated fields — this is our mission field. And so, these “fields”, and the “villages”, are interpreted as the nations of the world.

Either way we read these words, as the relationship between G-d and Israel, or as between Christ and the Church, there are many wonderful verses and images that make this a wonderful read.

Let us pray,

Lord Christ, your desire is that we come to you daily for food, sustenance, and peace. Give us all you desire – and help us desire you. Amen.

Pastor Dave