SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1089

“Persuaded”

For I am sure 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 8:38-39)

Have you ever done something you regretted and then doubted that God would forgive you or still love you? This is a lie that Satan plants in your thoughts to drive a wedge between you and Jesus. The enemy seeks to steal your peace and weaken your spiritual resolve and effectiveness in service of the Lord.

The word ‘sure’ in our reference Scripture from the ESV is translated ‘persuaded’ and ‘confident’ in other translations. This Greek word has as its root the word for ‘faith’. We are to have faith that persuades us and gives us steadfast confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

We cannot muster up such persuasive and confident faith. We cannot earn it. It is a gift from God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, – (Ephesians 2:8)

This gift comes from the Holy Spirit fire kindled in our hearts as we encounter God through His Living Word.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. – ( Romans 10:17)

Even though faith is a gift, it is entirely acceptable to ask for more.

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” – (Luke 17:5)

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. – (Luke 11:9-10)

Contemplate for a moment on the enormity of the gift of salvation that God has provided for you through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. He even gifted you the faith to believe and be saved. Reflect on all that God has brought you through in this life and provided for you in your times of need. Try to imagine all He will do in the future in eternity beyond this temporary life in the body.

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” – (1 Corinthians 2:9)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father… that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you… may have strength to comprehend …what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. – (Ephesians 3:14-19)

Rejoice, worship and give Him Praise! Nothing past, present, or future can separate you from His love.