Romans 14:8
Today's devotional from the Jesuit Society (which I receive in my email each morning) had the passage Romans 14:7-12 (New Revised Standard Version).
I can remember being aware of the possible death of those I love from when I was quite small. Did you think about that as a child? I remember way back when my little sister and I shared a bed, I used to get quite crabby with her for "hogging my side," but I would make sure that I said "I love you" to her before we went to sleep -- just in case she or I died overnight. I wanted to make sure the last thing I said was nice, and no matter what, she would know I loved her.
Now, the verse still gives me comfort. Life is more complicated. There are more and more things I don't understand. I can think and think, read and read, discuss and discuss, learn and learn, but still I cannot comprehend or understand why such sad or horrible things happen. BUT, "If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s." I'll rest in the Lord.
We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister?
For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” So then, each of us will be accountable to God.Ever since I was a kid, whenever I was asked what my favorite Bible verse was, I would say Romans 14:8, "If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s." I've always liked resting in the comfort that I, and those I love, belong to the Lord, whether we're living or dead.
I can remember being aware of the possible death of those I love from when I was quite small. Did you think about that as a child? I remember way back when my little sister and I shared a bed, I used to get quite crabby with her for "hogging my side," but I would make sure that I said "I love you" to her before we went to sleep -- just in case she or I died overnight. I wanted to make sure the last thing I said was nice, and no matter what, she would know I loved her.
Now, the verse still gives me comfort. Life is more complicated. There are more and more things I don't understand. I can think and think, read and read, discuss and discuss, learn and learn, but still I cannot comprehend or understand why such sad or horrible things happen. BUT, "If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s." I'll rest in the Lord.