Daily Butter 11/11: Inseparable

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (11/11/11):

    For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,

    nor angels nor rulers,

    nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

    nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing

    will have the power to separate us

    from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

    (Romans 8:38-39 HCSB)

While that does not directly relate to my comments on the scripture, I must make note of today. Though knowing Veterans Day should be a holiday “goes without saying,” a vast majority of this nation will go through their daily routine this day like any other and appreciation for others’ sacrifice on their behalf goes unsaid. For my entire life I have had the freedom to live my faith and even be vocal about my faith in ways that my brothers and sisters across the globe risk life and limb to do. Yet I have not had to risk and fight, so for those who have fought to preserve these freedoms for me and to gain freedom for others, today is your day and you have my utmost gratitude.

How a follower of Jesus Christ can think they can lose their salvation has always baffled me. This reminder from Paul that no “created thing” (which you and I are) can break that bond of love gets missed. Admittedly, there are times we feel distant from Him, but like the wayward son (Luke 15:11-23), no matter the distance we stray from our Heavenly Father by our own choices, His love follows us even when we stray. Or in another reminder from Paul:

This saying is trustworthy:

    For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;

    if we endure, we will also reign with Him;

    if we deny Him, He will also deny us;

    if we are faithless, He remains faithful,

    for He cannot deny Himself.

(2 Timothy 2:11-13 HCSB)

I suppose this is where some get the notion that He will deny us if we deny Him, but I can’t imagine how anyone who has truly experienced Him could do so. Even when Peter “denied” Him as prophesied, Christ was faithful to him, restoring him into one of the great pillars in His church.

- Andy Jentes