Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Stay Close to Him

"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~
    As I looked at my children sitting next to me in the pew at church this Sunday, I was reminded of how precious life is and how quickly time passes.  It seems as if in the "blink  of an eye" our babies grow up and go off to school.  As they become young adults, they learn and experience many new things away from home.  Slowly, but surely, this world envelops them and they become more susceptible to the sin in this world.  As Christian parents, we hope that they remain faithful to how they've been raised.  We pray they do not make choices that will separate them from family and friends, or what's worse--separate them from God.  Yet, we are reminded of God's promise in the Bible passage above that nothing they do "will be able to separate them from the love of God."   
    As mothers, it is disheartening to live in a world that does not value life in the way God intended for us to .  Often times, the lack of respect in our society is stunning--it's evident when you turn on the T.V., pick up a magazine in the doctor's office, or step foot in the hallway of any school.  We want to protect our children from the evil in this world; to keep them safe.  Yet, we can only protect them from so much. Thankfully, God can be their true Protector.
    Remember God's promise: "Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Nothing....not sin, death, or the devil.   God's Word reminds us that sin was not part of God's original plan.  Because of that fact, He sent His only Son to conquer it.  God gave His Son so that we would not be lost in the sinfulness of this world forever.
    So, even though we live in a lost and condemned world, may we and our children stay close to where God promises to be--in His House, in His Word, and in His Sacrament.  In His Church, He gives us His gifts and promises to love and take care of  us.  Through His Word, He teaches us how to live the Christian life.  And, in His Supper, He feeds us, forgives us, and unites us with Him.  How blessed we are to serve a God that forgives and renews us, so that we may live the Christian life and never be separated from Him!   
Dearest Heavenly Father, We thank you for being our God.  Forgive us when we don't honor you in what we say or do.  Stay close to us and our families this day and always.  Fill us with the joy, hope, and peace that can only come from You. And may we, in turn, share it with our husbands, children, and all those we meet.  In Christ's name, Amen.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Christine!

    What a beautiful devotion! I have a child in college and a senior in high school, and pray constantly that they will continue to follow God and seek His will. This devotion is so reassuring!

    I'm the editor and publisher of a pro-family, pro-life newspaper, the "Nebraska Family Times." (You can check us out on Facebook or at www.nebraskafamilytimes.blogspot.com) Our mission is "to inspire, encourage, and motivate readers in their Christian walk." I'm writing today to ask your permission to reprint this devotion in the "Nebraska Family Times"--it would fit perfectly in the "Family Room" of the paper.

    If you grant permission I will of course attribute it to you, and, if you want print a short "blurb" about you and your family and links to this blog and any other blogs you may write for, per your request. I'd also be more than happy to send you several copies of the issue of the paper in which the article appears.

    May I reprint the devotion? If you have any questions or need more information you can contact me at shelly@shellyburke.net

    Thanks so much for your consideration!

    Sincerely,
    Shelly Burke, Nebraska Family Times

    ReplyDelete

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