No Greater Love

Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written:  "For your sake we are killed all day long: We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, Nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8: 35-39 NKJV

There is a song that any child that has gone to Sunday school knows.  It's a simple song, but the truth it contains has great value for someone at such an early age.

Jesus loves me
This I know
For the BIBLE tells me so!

As we get older and the pressures and realities of  this sinful world surround us, sometimes we lose focus on that simple truth, Jesus loves me!  In Romans 8:35 the apostle Paul attempts to reassure us of this simple truth.  Paul lists a myriad of things which some may feel would be able to overcome the love that God has for his children.  However, in the end, he reveals that not even these can put a dent in the affection our heavenly Father shares for us.  See, there is NOTHING in this universe that He created that can stand in the way of Gods everlasting love.  The apostle Paul would indeed have a unique perspective on how our Lord perceives someone.  For if there was anyone whom it would seem deserved to be cut off from Gods love, it's the man Saul of Tarsus.

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest.  And asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.  Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"  And he said, "Who are you, Lord?"  Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
Acts 9: 1-5 NKJV

This man, this Saul of Tarsus had been enroute to Damascus with the full intent of continuing his persecution of the early church.  See, in Sauls day, those who were of "The Way" constituted the followers of Jesus.  It would seem, then, that if there were ANYONE whom the love of God was not reserved, it would have been Saul!  However, far from condemning Saul, our just and merciful Father redeemed him who had persecuted so many!  As a result, Paul became one of the greatest ministers of the gospel the world has ever known.  For when Paul spoke of the love and forgiveness of Jesus, he spoke from his heart!  How sure was Saul of his fate?  He would refer to himself as "Chief of all sinners!"

Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 1: 13-15 NKJV

Yes, from persecutor to redeemed apostle, all due to the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus.  There is, no greater love!

~Scott~