May 3 | Romans 8:35-39

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DAILY READING

Romans 8:35-39

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REFLECTION

Us With God

by Dave Thompson 

These verses are pretty familiar to many. A lot of good promises are here like "that it is impossible to be separated from God's love" (versus 38-39). For God to promise something, you can bet that it will or perhaps won't happen, just like He said.

One of His first promises in this passage is, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" It continues with, "No, in all these things we are considered more than conquerors by Him who loved us." Further it states, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons nor the present nor the future, nor any powers." It then it ends with, "neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Did you get that. If we believe in Christ and are wishing to live for him, nothing can hurt us beyond what we can bear, nor stop us except if it is in the plan of God. I love to read that when I am feeling down and want some relief.

I was on a visitation with the pastor of the church I attended a number of years ago. He wanted to visit a sporadic attender. So I said fine hoping we might lead this man to the Lord. We went through the memorized talk and got to the final question "Is anything stopping you from giving your life the Lord right now?" To my surprise, he said the loss of his friend's daughter when she was very young made him a bit sour on God. He continued to ask the pastor (as now I was just on for the ride), how could a loving God allow that to happen. The pastor did a good job of talking about Christ not causing anything like that to happen. The pastor spoke of demons that were the opposite of God and how bad things happen due to them. To my surprise, the man said that it was all making sense, and that he would give this whole Christian thing some thought. I never got to see him become a Christian as the pastor and the man moved on. But I hope the seeds planted that night might have contributed to him becoming saved later in life.

However, that night I was left with a nagging question that I was hoping for an answer to, "Why do the good die young?" I have never really figured that one out, but I know if I still have it on my mind when I get to Heaven, I will ask about it. But what I always remember on today's topic are two scriptures that I know are true for each of us; "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." (Deut. 31:8) and "I will give you no more than what you can handle." (1 Cor. 10:13) So be assured dear brothers and sisters that God is always with you; even when a bad thing happens, God will give you the physical and mental strength to handle it.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I praise you for your many promises that can get us through tough times when we have a belief in You. You are amazing. Amen.

Find additional "Dying to Live" study materials designed for small groups or individual use here.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE THOMPSON

I am the administrator of the Daily Worship Blog. My wife, Carla, and I have been attending UALC for seven years at the 9 o'clock service at Mill Run. We have two children, Catherine and Aaron. I have been a Christian for 53 years and am thankful that my Savior has given me two spiritual gifts that have carried me both spiritually and vocationally all my life: they are teaching and administration. I look forward to spending many years here at UALC to serve my Lord and Savior.

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May 2 | Galatians 6:14

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DAILY READING

Galatians 6:14

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REFLECTION

Boasting

by Dave Thompson 

Why do we boast? What do we boast about? Is it good or bad? Let's take a few minutes to look at this topic. I was watching The Price is Right the other day. People were winning many things, but there was one lady that had a chance of winning a car. Not just any car, but a red SUV. Before even winning, she told the host, Drew Carey, that this would make her life easier. When she won, she was "over the moon" with joy. She went to the SUV and hugged its hood. I would guess that over the next few months, she would be bragging to everyone who would listen about how she won a car and that it is her pride and joy.

Perhaps for you, it would be a beautiful house you just bought. Or, a new handsome boyfriend or girlfriend, winning the lottery, being hired for a new job with a long title and a window office space. I could go on, but I bet you get the point. The Life Application Bible comments on this verse as follows:

"The world is full of enticements. Daily we are tempted with subtle cultural pressures and overt propaganda. The only way to escape these destructive influences is to ask God to help crucify our interest in them, just as Paul did. How much do the interests of this world matter to you?"

It would be nice to be wealthy enough to be a member of the most exclusive country club in town, where we could keep those unworthy out!! These might be hard words to absorb and even harder to get to the place where we ask Christ to crucify all of those things on the cross. Being the best at your job is a part of God's plan, as is your financial situation. We need to not take everything we have so seriously that they might become our gods. Instead we need to ask Christ for forgiveness and understand that all thing that we have or have done are from Him. It is not us.

Ask yourself, Where you would be without Christ? Would I have such and so talents, winnings, money and health. God wants to have a relationship with each of us and having so many things in our lives that draw us away can make a solid relationship hard. God doesn't want us to get rid of anything unless it is the thing that is hurting your walk with Him, with fellow employees or with your family. Ask Christ to send the Holy Spirit into our lives to help us make the right decisions.

Prayer

Lord, we each have so much that we could and in some cases should boast about (i.e. a great spouse). Help us through your Holy Spirit to search ourselves and find the right balance between those things discussed in your Word and this devotional. We long for a better, more full relationship with You.

Find additional "Dying to Live" study materials designed for small groups or individual use here.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE THOMPSON

I am the administrator of the Daily Worship Blog. My wife, Carla, and I have been attending UALC for seven years at the 9 o'clock service at Mill Run. We have two children, Catherine and Aaron. I have been a Christian for 53 years and am thankful that my Savior has given me two spiritual gifts that have carried me both spiritually and vocationally all my life: they are teaching and administration. I look forward to spending many years here at UALC to serve my Lord and Savior.

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MAY 1 | GALATIANS 2:20

DAILY READING

Galatians 2:20

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REFLECTION

A New Leaf 

by Judy Webb

‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

The verse is confusing at first glance and somewhat difficult to grasp even after studying it and perusing various commentaries. But now, when I examine the verse and put it into perspective, I recall my own conversion, and it begins to make sense.

To me, this is about turning over a new leaf. I know from personal experience that it is never too late to start over and become the person you have always wanted to be. I also know I cannot do it on my own. The main ingredient in this recipe for personal change is Christ. More specifically, Christ in me. This means I am now guided by the Spirit of Christ, living within me. My sinful nature has been overcome.

The moment we submit to Christ, when I call out in desperation for Him to help, he begins a new work in us, and life is never the same. There is a new desire for goodness, for love and fellowship. He makes all things new; we are living a new life in Him! While we are still in the world and struggle with temptation of our own flesh, we do so now by faith in Christ.

This conscious choice to trust and obey begins a new season, a new life with Jesus. His Word becomes food and nourishes our souls with a transformative power. Christ becomes our new identity. What is more, “the more we see Christ clearly in the Word, the more we are changed into His image”. –John Piper

PRAYER

Dear Jesus,

Give us a desire to embrace the text from Galatians 2:20. Reveal the power to be had when we give up our old selves and grab a hold of You. There is no greater thing than to start over, begin again new and refreshed. Give us all a picture of what it looks like to have Christ in Me. Amen.

Find additional "Dying to Live" study materials designed for small groups or individual use here.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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JUDY WEBB

I have been a member of UALC for 26 years and have been writing devotions for this site for about 17 of them. Writing is my passion. As retired staff I still love everything about UALC and its members including my small group.

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