CFNN Reporter: Brianna Keen

This week, there was only a Tuesday morning meeting. Carter Edwards led the devotion, coming from John 16:22-23 and Romans 8:38-39. The overall focus of the devotion was the intense love that the Lord has for you and me. Carter really zoned in on the idea that we need to walk around with the confidence of knowing that nothing can separate us from God and His love.

John 16:22-23 says, “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”

Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We had a great discussion about the difference between happiness and joy. I think that joy is a divine emotion, in the sense that it is something that has been gifted to us directly from the Lord. Happiness is fleeting and temporary, but joy stays in your soul and cannot be taken as long as you have a heart for your heavenly Father. Joy is also more contagious than happiness in my opinion, which would make sense. I mean think about it, haven’t you seen at least one person in your life who has the “Jesus glow”? They seem unbelievably calm and sound when things don’t go their way, they are gentle and kind to those around them, etc. Their joy spreads to others, and is a testament to the Lord’s constant reaching out for those who have yet to accept Him into their hearts. That is a person with true joy living inside of them, placed and sustained by our Lord. I aspire to be a person with evident joy in my soul.

Another part that just leaves me in awe is the Romans 8 scripture. I marvel at the sovereignty and utter glory of our God. To think of all of the evil things in this world, ones in the seen and the unseen realm, and to know that they cannot touch us nor separate us from the love of God is beyond praiseworthy. Think of the most evil thing you can, in all of its frightening power. It can seem so real and so threatening, yet it can do nothing when you have the light of Jesus within you. Remind yourselves that demons and the evil things of this world tremble at the mere mentioning of Jesus’ name. How good is it that we follow the One who has defeated death, the One who reigns over all creation? I pray that the sovereignty of God would never be lost on me, that I would constantly be in awe of His holy power. This is why we should have a healthy fear of the Lord. Yes, He is the Lamb, but do not forget He is also the Lion. Your reverence of God should only push you closer to Him. His power is magnificent, and He uses it to care for you and me. If that is not a reason to praise Him and rejoice, I don’t know what is. 

Thank you for reading, and remember to pick up your cross daily!