Lent 2 | Romans 8:31-39 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
Nothing Can Separate by Lucy Grimble and Matt Redman

Lyrics:
There is a love
That never runs out
That flows from the heart of my Father
It never forsakes
It won’t walk away
God your precious love
Is running after us

No height
No depth
No width
No length
Nothing can separate
No power
In hell
Or here on
The earth
Nothing can separate

There is a grace
That never gives up
That flows from the heart of my Saviour
No matter the distance
No matter how far
God your endless grace
Is running after us

There’s a place where I’m truly found
There’s a place where I’m fully known
In the very heart of God
I am home
I am home
There’s place where I’m truly found
There’s a place where I’m fully known
In the very heart of God
I am home
I am home
There’s a place where I’m truly found
There’s a place where I’m fully known
In the very heart of God
I’m home

No height
No depth
No width
No length
Nothing can separate us
No power
In hell
Or here on
The earth
Nothing can separate
Nothing can separate
Nothing can separate
Nothing can separate us

No height
No depth
No width
No length
Nothing can separate
Nothing can separate
Nothing can separate us
Passage:

31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

Because of you

we are being put to death all day long;

we are counted 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 persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -- Romans 8:31-39 (CSB)
Musical Reflection:

Harp Meditation No. 2 by Gretchen Kirby
Reflection Notes:

This modal meditation centers around an intervallic pattern in the right hand that is anchored by deep bass octaves in the left hand and occasional supportive harmonies. Though somewhat haunting, the melodic motif provokes reflection.

Prayer:
May the power of God preserve us. May the wisdom of God instruct us and the way of God direct us. May the hand of God protect us and the host of God guard us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world.
-Patrick