Love remains
Ruth Kennedy 
December 30, 2023
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Romans 8: 12-17 (NIVUK)
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
12-14 So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!
15-17 This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Abba?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him! (Romans 8: 12-17 in The Message)
All through this theme of the Last Straw we have encountered different aspects of God’s love for us: in His grace to us, His peace He gives us, the faith we can have in Him. And all because at the very heart of it all, at the very core of God, is love.
When everything else fails, love remains. For love never fails.
When we believe that God is love, there is a freedom for us to call out to God – ‘What’s next Papa?’ Because whatever it is we know it comes from the heart of love.
The more we walk with God, or run to him like a child, the more of His love we experience, increasing our inspiration to share it with others, in loving kind acts and words and prayers of faith.
Christmas reminds us of the utter extent of God’s love for us that He would give His son to us, who invites us to share in an inheritance that is literally out of this world.
Know who He is and know who you are.
God is love and His children are like Him. As a child of God, you are a child of love, so love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. And love your neighbour as yourself — for love never fails, it really is the last straw.
Prayer:
God of love, nothing can separate me from your love. As your child it is your prerogative to love me, which you do. Even when that overwhelms me. Even when I don’t think I deserve it and try and hide away.
Your love doesn’t abandon me. And when there are painful times I can trust there will be joy coming because you love me and your love never fails. Your love for me your child, never gives up, it never fails. Oh that I would have a greater revelation of your great love for me! How that turns frowns upside down! How that brightens up the darkest of places and floods me with light!
It isn’t just me, by your Spirit I am part of your Body and your love protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres for us.
Bring your love to the forefront of our lives today so that we are truly servants of the God of love, generously giving to our neighbours just as Jesus generously gives to us.
Praise you God for your love for us.
Amen.
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