In one of my favorite passages in the NT one of the verses
from our Psalms today is quoted. The verse is 44:22, “Yet for your sake we are
killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” Taken out
of its setting, you might have a difficult time remembering exactly where it is
in the NT. Here in the Psalms the verse is pointing out the fact that God’s
people have at times suffered death because of their faith.
Paul takes this verse and plops it down in the middle of
Romans 8 where he is reminding believers that nothing can ever separate us from
the love of God in Christ…even death. “What then shall we say to these things?
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? Who shall bring any charge against God 's elect? It is God who
justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died —more than that,
who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for
us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it
is written, “ For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are
regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. 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 8:35-39)
What a blessed assurance for us as the Lord’s people. Glory!
Prayer: Father, thank you again for the reminder of your
grace and your steadfast love. That you that we have nothing to fear, not even
death. Help us to see death in the victory of the cross because it simply
delivers us into your eternal presence.
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