We do it

As you may know, my heart has been captured by Romans 8 this week.  On Monday it was about how we are "more than conquerors" and that we are deeply loved by the Father.  

Today on my walk (prayer time) God turned my thoughts back to the final verses of Romans 8:

All of us who have called upon the name of the Lord and have been saved (Romans 10:13) can rest in the security offered in these final verses of Romans 8.  When the Father looks at us, he sees that we are covered by the blood of his precious Son, which is always and forever enough!

Nevertheless, my reflections on Romans 8 didn't stop at this promise.  Instead, as I pondered the verses, I came to realize that there is something that can separate us from the love of God and it has and always will be US.  We do it . . . . we pull away, run away, ignore, disobey, outright rebel, become prideful, love the world, become bitter, become discouraged, get too busy and so much more.  We do it--God doesn't move, but we do. There are a million reasons (excuses) why, but, when we get down to the core of the matter, none of them are valid. 

Sometimes the "separation" we create happens in a moment--when we can't understand how God would allow a parent/child/friend to die.  More often, I imagine, it happens subtly, over time--a series of small steps in the wrong direction until the close relationship we had with our Father feels like a distant memory.  

I think God was reminding me to faithfully seek Him each day:  to "listen" to what he has to say to me through his written Word and to "talk" to him through daily prayer time.  By whatever means I close the lines of communication, whether out of laziness or apathy, out of pride or bitterness, out of a sense of independence or because of some disappointment or failure, I am separating myself from Him.  However, none of my actions result in my being/looking different to the Father. 

I'll let David DePra explain it with three verses from Ephesians.  

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Eph 1:20)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Eph 2:6)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Eph 1:3)

Paul says that Christ is seated at the right hand of God in the eternal spiritual realm, i.e., heavenly places. He then says that WE are seated together in those heavenly places IN Christ. Then he says that because of this, we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings that belong to Christ.

Paul doesn’t say maybe. He doesn’t hope for someday. He is saying that these things are FACT – right now. They are as final as is the finished redemption that made them possible. If you are IN CHRIST, then everything Paul says in these verses are the Truth for YOU personally. (Want to read more, click here.)

I think God was telling me I need to be faithful and consistent.  I need to listen to Him, through his Word, and talk to Him, through the privilege of prayer.   When I close off the lines of communication, whether by laziness or apathy, by bitterness or pride, by seeking my own glory or because of disappointment or failure, I am increasing the distance between us.  God doesn't move . . . I do.

Let me encourage you to rest in the promise that nothing can separate you from the love of God.  You can trust that he won't be the one who moves.