Daily Bible Verses for 2/10/2017
Daily Verse(s)
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reading Notes
When Paul speaks of the things meant to separate us from the love of God, he speaks from experience. Paul more than most suffered all things for the Gospel’s sake. From shipwreck and beatings to stonings, Paul suffered all things for the glory of knowing Jesus Christ our Lord. Moreover, Paul knew what it was like to let the pride and arrogance of men separate him from God. Paul was a Pharisee, this is equivalent to a lawyer today. He was trained at the best school by one of the most famous teachers. From a human perspective, Paul had it all. Paul had everything going for him and he left it all for the joy of knowing Jesus. Here in these passages Paul uses astronomical terms which usually referred to the high and low point of stars, and he is doing so to give his readers a better understanding of God’s sovereignty.
However, here Paul is using the term to be inclusive of everything in God’s creation, including the earthly and spiritual. In these passages Paul is listing every possible cause for separation from God, including human pride and sin, to spiritual warfare. The terms “principalities” and “powers” speak of fallen angels, demons and the spiritual warfare that can come upon believers because of the nature of Satan and the fallen world we live in. This is meant to comfort us and to strengthen us both from God’s word and Paul’s own experience, which shows us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. We, therefore, take comfort in knowing what Jesus Himself told us. Which is He, will lose none of those whom the Father has placed in His hands! Therefore, with our faith in Jesus and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, along with the study of God’s word, we have what we need to remain in close relationship with God through Christ who strengthens us.