"For I am convinced," Paul writes in the eight chapter of Romans, beginning a thunderous defense of what he believes. "For I am convinced that neither death, nor live, nor angles, nor rulers, nor things present, not 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 through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Over the past few days, I have thought a great deal about this passage of scripture, for I used it as the text for my homily at Mr. Ed Dilsaver's funeral yesterday. Those of you who had the honor of knowing Ed know that he was a man of great convictions. Reading, studying, and praying about these words, I saw once again the sheer beauty of Paul's defense of his beliefs a passion that I fear we might allow to slip more than we realize.
Paul's conviction of nothing being able to separate us from the love of God through Christ our Lord is not only a great statement of faith, but a proper frame by which to look at our lives.
If someone were to ask you to complete the sentence, "For I am convinced...", what would you say? How does what you are convinced of affect your day-to-day life? Does what you are convinced of have its root in the saving power of the grace of God through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit?
See You Sunday!
Lamar
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