Then what can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or hardship? Can persecution, hunger, nakedness, peril, or the sword?…In spite of all, overwhelming victory is ours through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that there is nothing in death or life, in the realm of spirits or super-human powers, in the world as it is or the world as it shall be, in the forces of the universe, in heights or depths – nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35, 37-39 NEB.

This morning I want to share two devotionals. The first Hearing God by Dallas Willard was headed by the Scripture verse above and said: “When our first child was born, I realized painfully that this beautiful little creature was separate from me and nothing I could do would shelter him from his aloneness in the face of time, brutal events, others’ meanness, his own wrong choices, the decay of his body and, finally, death. That would be the last word on the subject, except for God. He is able to penetrate and intertwine Himself within the fibers of the human self in such a way that those who are enveloped in His loving companionship will never be alone. Meditate: Read Romans 8:35, 37-39. Read it again, inserting whatever separates you from Christ into the list after sword (perhaps loneliness, rejection, uselessness). Read the last verse aloud with as much power as you can muster.”

And the second, You Are The Beloved by Henri Nouwen: “Increasingly in our society we feel we have less and less influence on the decisions that affect our own existence. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important to recognize that the largest part of our existence involves waiting in the sense of being acted upon. The life of Jesus tells us that not being in control is part of the human condition. His vocation and ours are fulfilled not just in action but also in passion, waiting. Imagine how important this message is for us and for the people in our world. If it is true that God in Jesus Christ is waiting for our response to divine love, then we can discover a whole new perspective on how to wait in life. We can learn to be obedient people who do not always try to go back to the action but recognize the fulfillment of our deepest humanity in passion, in waiting. If we can do this, I am convinced that we will come in touch with the power and the glory of God and our own new life. Our service to others will include our helping them see the glory breaking through – not only where they are active but also where they are being acted upon. And so the spirituality of waiting is not simply our waiting for God. It is also participating in God’s own waiting for us and in that way coming to share in the deepest love, which is God’s love.”

What struck me in reading our chapter about the rebuilding of the temple, Ezekiel 41, were the descriptions of what was carved at regular intervals: In the space above the outside of the entrance to the inner sanctuary and on the walls at regular intervals all around the inner and outer sanctuary were carved cherubim and palm trees. Palm trees alternated with cherubim. Each cherub had two faces: the face of a human being toward the palm tree on one side and the face of a lion toward the palm tree on the other. They were carved all around the whole temple. From the floor to the area above the entrance, cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall of the main hall. v. 17-20. I couldn’t help but think Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, wanted this beautiful visual reminder within the temple of what He created. What about in our own hearts? Yesterday our sermon message was about kindness, a fruit of God’s Spirit. Kindness unlocks the doors of our hearts to love others realizing how much God loves them. God’s kindness to us encourages us. How can we deny kindness to others? God gave to Ezekiel the vision of the specific plans for the rebuilding of the temple once they returned to Jerusalem from captivity. And He gives to each of us the plans for the blueprints of our own hearts turned to Him. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23. A beautiful reminder of what He creates within us when we allow His Spirit to work in us. Can we trust God for the work He knows we each of us need? God will take care of the sins we each of us harbor. Those sins will not go with us into His Kingdom. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21. Let God’s love encourage your heart. He will bring healing to each of us. He knows how to do that. Can we truly ponder that truth? Creator God will heal the sins in the hearts of His children. Let God be God and let your heart be willing to dance with Him! It is His love that lifts us! In spite of all…overwhelming victory is ours through Him who loves us!