Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 5:9-27; Philippians 1:1-20 

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) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The answer: No. Nei. Nope. Nada. Nein. No way José. Non. Nullus. Impossible. Inconceivable. The question: Can anything separate you from God's love toward you in Christ Jesus? 

The devil will try. The world and culture around you will try. Your own sinful flesh will try. None of them change the fact:. God has loved the world, has loved you, and sent His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ into this world to die for the sins of the world, for your sin, that whoever believes in Him, in Jesus, will not perish but have eternal life. Period. No exceptions. 100% guaranteed. Even the believing is gift to you, not something you have to strive to do. Staying in the faith, to keep believing — guess what, that's all gift to you as well. Talk about a crazy love! God does it all. The Father does the sending of Jesus. Jesus does the saving by His death on the Cross. The Holy Spirit gifts you and keeps you believing in Jesus. It's all God from beginning to end. No wonder nothing in all of creation can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

God is on your side. He loves you and wants you to be with Him, now and eternally. "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32) Look at what He gives. He has washed you in the waters of Holy Baptism in His Name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He has absolved you of all your sins. He feeds you with Jesus' Body and Blood in bread and wine to put the forgiveness won on the Cross into you. He preaches His Word into your ear. All gift from the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit. What can stop God's love for you in Christ Jesus? Nothing. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

For no one can condemn me Or set my hope aside; Now hell no more can claim me: Its fury I deride. No sentence now reproves me, No guilt destroys my peace; For Christ, my Savior, loves me And shields me with His grace. ("If God Himself Be for Me" LSB 724, st.5)

-Rev. Daniel Voth, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, ND.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.