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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35.
Who among us can in truth repeat these words of the Apostle? Who among us is so full of the love of Christ that he endures, I will not say fire and sword, anguish and tribulation; but who endures patiently an ordeal calling for self-denial, a small injustice, a sharp word, or a loss? Who is so strong in love that he can bear such things for Christ’s sake and remain in love of the Savior, in love to friends and to enemies, so that nothing in his heart can separate him from the love of Christ? Do not these beautiful words become a lie in our mouth when we have no power in our heart; when we do not demonstrate their truth in our conduct? There are many who, perhaps, could better endure great sufferings and trials because of their love for Christ than bear the small trials that daily vex them. It seems to be more difficult to remain in the love of Christ during daily trials than during great persecutions and severe sufferings. We must beseech the Savior for strength to endure both, and seek power and endurance from Him. The love which God, through His Holy Spirit, has poured out into our hearts, can overcome everything. This love does not permit anything to separate it from its fountain any more than heat can be separated from fire, or light and warmth from the sun. Fancied love, which consists in words only, is unable to conquer anything; it can not be separated from Christ because it is not in Him: it is only an imagination and a self-delusion. It can not die, because it does not live; and for that reason it can not endure and bear.
Give me a calm and thankful heart,
From every murmur free;
The blessings of Thy grace impart.
And let me live to Thee.
