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26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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 8:26-39 NRSV)
A blessed Tuesday be yours, dear Friend is my prayer. I appreciate the email and texts I received concerning my cousin's husband, and my pastoral friend. I appreciate your concern for me. As we pray today, please lift up the name of my neighbor, Hector Cruz, who undergoes a serious procedure in San Antonio at the Veteran's Hospital. Pray also for his wife, Terri as she drives him there and back.
"Long distance call!" Remember hearing those words? Those of you who remember receiving a long distance call might remember that the responses were immediate; excitement or fear; some even might have asked, "Who's paying for this call? It's not a collect call is it?" Back in the day, long distance was big business because each call was expensive. Companies knew that for families with relatives in other towns and cities, providing them a way to stay connected was important. I remember every trip I took from home to another place my mother would say, remember to call to let me know you arrived there safely; and the code was for me to call person-to-person collect and to ask for myself. Kids, person-to-person collect meant the operator (ask your grandparents what those were) would not charge your home phone if the person you were calling was not home. And I had to pray and wrestle within myself on this deceptive trick, trying to justify that it was the cheapest way to let Momma know that I was okay.
We thank God for Him not being in the long distance business. God is in the closeness business. God is as near as our hearts, lip, and minds. And He wants us to draw close to Him at all times. Even in the most difficult of times. I've shared the story of a dear mother whose adult daughter was dying of cancer. The doctors had done all they could and the only hope she had was the Lord. But she had cried and prayed, and prayed and cried so much, she told me she could no longer pray; she was out of words. As she asked me what she could do, the Lord reminded me of this passage starting at verse 26; God knows our prayers because God knows our hearts, God knows our minds, and God's Holy Spirit intercedes for the saints interpreting our sighs which are too deep for words. Isn't that marvelous? We can never reach the point in our lives or faith that we are distant from God!
Second lesson: If you love God all your efforts of faith offered in your service to God and God's kingdom will work for good, if they are within the purpose of God's plan. That gives us a different perspective about life if we don't forget that especially when the circumstances seem challenging and difficult. Then Paul adds some theological insight designed to reassure us of our salvation because of Jesus. In plain English, God loves you so much, He sent Jesus to die for you and me.
Third lesson: God is for you and for me. Great question, who can be against us? Pity the fool who thinks they can outwit, outsmart, or beat God!
Fourth lesson: Who will bring charges against you? Who can condemn you? Answers: No one, especially if Jesus knows you as one of His; He will speak up for you and you will be found innocent.
Fifth and final lesson: God is not in the long distance business! God does not like to be separated from anyone for any reason. You can make a list if you want to, but there's one already made! Written by a man who knew personally each of these things. Hardship? It's on there. Hardship may come and may even bring a friend, but it will NOT separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. How about distress? Nope? Persecution? ¡Tampoco! Famine? Maybe for a bit, but a plate of food is coming right after you realize that God loves you! Nakedness? Or what you perceive as being an empty closet? No. Peril? No! Sword? Not even! Paul knew that an army made up of those foes of hardship to sword, have met their demise in God. Paul declares, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!" Wait! Paul's not finished! He continues with this awesome list; "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor power, 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." God is NOT, I repeat, God is NOT in the long distance business. And neither should we! Friend, if you feel a bit distant from God, I remind you of the old story of the elderly couple riding in those old style vehicles with huge church pew wide seats, the couple saw a young couple in a similar vehicle and seated so close together, the older man told his wife, "Look honey, a two-headed monster is driving that truck!" She laughed and said, "Remember when we sat like that? Why don't we do that anymore?" The old man smiled and said, "Well, guess who moved?"
PRAYER: Awesome Father, You are so close we can feel you if we want; sometimes life tries to get in the way and we feel far from You, but we know it is us only giving in to the challenges life brings; let us draw nearer to You is our prayer. We thank You for the message that Paul shared in this passage. We celebrate that You are not in the long distance business, because prayer is free and prayer is as close as our desire to talk to You. Help us to share this with others as You lead. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Draw near to the Lord and then invite someone to join you.
Receive my blessings of love and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
CORRECTION TO THE NARRATION: I mentioned the death of The Rev. Dan Garcia, I meant Rev. Dan Rodriguez. Please forgive my error.
