THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 31, 2011

THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST

“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (I Corinthians 6:19).

When a mother is “with child” everyone understands that the mother must be careful as to what she takes into her body, for she is carrying a baby inside her womb.  Commonly, a mother is told not to take any alcohol or drugs.  If the mother has consumed anything dangerous while she is “with child” it can dangerously affect the life of her baby.  This being true, however, Christians seem to take little care in protecting the Holy Ghost that is within the believer.  Our bodies are made temples of the Holy Ghost.    

  We are told in Ephesians 4:30 that we are not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.  And how do we grieve Him?  We can grieve him through corrupt communication: our speech should be “good," useful in the building up of another.  Ephesians 4:31 says, “let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice.”  Keep these things in the temple and watch the Holy Spirit leave!  The word of God also tells us that “fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness let it not be once named among you as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting.”  We are to be “kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). We are one spirit with Christ.

Today, let us pray, “Lord, we desire to walk in goodness, righteousness and truth so that the Holy Spirit within us may not be grieved in us, but increase in us, and bear witness to You.”

GROANINGS

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 28, 2011

GROANINGS

“LIKEWISE, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:27).

Sometimes we are too weak to pray, too downcast and too discouraged.  It is then that the Comforter takes control.  We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us who will intercede for us.  When there are no words to say, the Spirit will groan. Through our tears and our troubled soul, the Spirit groans “making intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (read Romans 8:26).  You may find yourself in a situation that you can’t think your way out of; or you may have a loved one who is  suffering.  Allow the Holy Spirit to take your burden and your distress by praying in the Spirit.  Say, “Holy Spirit, have your way.” Call on the name of the Lord: “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”  Speak in your heavenly language as the Spirit gives utterance.  Let the Spirit groan through your weary soul until he accomplishes the will of God in the situation.  Today, let us be encouraged to know that God hears the groaning of the Spirit and is working everything together for our good.

THE VOICE OF GOD

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 27, 2011

THE VOICE OF GOD

“And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire:  we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth” (Deuteronomy 5:24).

It is still true today, God talks with man.  He desires to speak into your ear a word of life, hope, peace, prosperity.  He desires to speak a word of correction, a word of wisdom, a word of instruction.  Just as God desired an intimate relationship with the children of Israel, He desires an intimate relationship with his children, the Church.   His messengers-- the  apostles and prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers-- speak as oracles of God for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ until we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto  the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ(read Ephesians 4). Today, let us labor in the Scriptures and fill ourselves with the Word, and we will hear God’s voice today.

BLESSED DAUGHTERS

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 26, 2011

 BLESSED DAUGHTERS

“And in all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers”(Job 42:15).

How wonderful, yet unusual, it was for Job’s daughters to receive an inheritance among their brothers.  It was the Jewish law that daughters only received an inheritance when there were no sons in the family.  But Job’s daughters found favor with their father and with God. (Unlike many biblical women, Job’s daughters are referred to by name: Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren Happuch.) God blessed Job with beautiful daughters and Job counted them, regarded them, distributed to them, and gifted them.  This was Job’s heart in his “latter days,” when he was blessed more than the beginning (See Job 42:12). 

It is this generous heart and this regarding of daughters that we see in God’s nature as well. Truly, in the last days God has decided to distribute his gifts among all flesh.  Joel prophesied “And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my spirit” (Joel 2:29).  How wonderful it is that God has counted, regarded, distributed and gifted his daughters.  How blessed we are that God has counted his daughters worthy of an inheritance among the brothers.  When it comes to the outpouring of the Spirit there is neither male nor female:  “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus…heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:27-29).  Today, let us celebrate our daughters while thanking God for including us all in his inheritance. 

A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 25, 2011

A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting” (Acts2:2).

“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:3).

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).

In this Scripture passage we see the disciples of Jesus Christ being baptized with the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised: “For truly John baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost (Acts1:5).  This pouring out of God’s Spirit upon the church was prophesied by the Prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.  And on my servants and handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17, 18). 

In Acts 2:2 we first hear a sound of a rushing mighty wind and we are told that this sound, this presence, fills the house where the disciples of Jesus had been praying in one accord. So first the house is filled with this rushing mighty wind, and then we understand that a cloven tongue as of fire sat upon each of them, then the Holy Ghost fills them.  The Person of the Holy Spirit entered the temple of their body and began to live and move in them.  The Church would now be Spirit led and Spirit controlled.  The Holy Spirit would abide with and comfort the Church from the day of Pentecost and forevermore (read John 14:16,17).  Today, let us allow the Person of the Holy Spirit to live and move in us until God’s Kingdom is established on earth as it is in heaven.

GRACE MUCH MORE

IN THE BEGINNING… THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, July 24, 2011

GRACE MUCH MORE

“Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound.  But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20, 21).

The Law was given to instruct mankind-- to teach us right from wrong, good from evil.  Yet, because we are imperfect without Christ Jesus completing us, the Law can frustrate us, showing us the offense, reminding us of our imperfect selves.  The Law shows us our sin, and sin leads us to death and death reigns in our lives when our focus is on the Law, the sin, the offense. Nevertheless, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  When Jesus came , grace began to reign.  We now have the power to live free from the power of sin. 

Not only do we have eternal life instead of the eternal punishment of death, but we walk in grace in this life as JESUS triumphs over Satan everywhere and at all times.  As we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we are robed in his righteousness, and in him there is neither death nor condemnation. Today, let us abound in the grace of our Lord and Savior!

THE BLOSSOMING DESERT PLACE

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 22, 2011

THE BLOSSOMING DESERT PLACE

“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them: and the desert shall blossom as the rose” (Isaiah 35:1).

Our heavenly Father has a way of delivering our lives from wilderness places and causing blooms to arise.  In fact, that is the gospel message: life after death, freedom from bondage, victory over defeat.  Even now, God is delighting in wiping out the desert places of your life.   God is in the business of abundance—abundant life, abundant joy, abundant peace and abundant blooms (see Isaiah 35:2).   Perhaps you are going through a wilderness experience, or your life may feel like a desert place.  This I know for sure:  “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (read Psalm 30:1-5).  Today, let us hold on to Christ in our desert place as he begins to bring forth life-- blossoming as a rose.

JESUS

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 21, 2011

JESUS

“Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God” (I John 5:5).

As we abide in Christ Jesus we have within us the power to overcome the world.    We are born of God, the children of God and we know that “whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world”(see I John 5:4).  For we know that greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.  Because we are of God we overcome everything not of God, because God is greater.  Do you believe this?  You must believe that God is greater than the world and that Jesus is the Son of God-- for our victory is in our faith.  We must maintain a simple childlike faith, knowing and confessing Jesus is the Son of God.  Jesus is the Savior of the world (I John 4:14).  Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings. We are not to be confounded or confused by the world, nor taken by amazement.  Instead, we are to stand sure, holding on to our confession of faith, not allowing circumstances to move us (away from our confession).  Today, let us keep the victory over the world by confessing our trust in that wonderful name, which is above all names: JESUS.

STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 20, 2011

STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH

“THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH…AND CONFESSED THAT THEY WERE STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH” (Hebrews 11:13).

The sons and daughters of God are those of us who are led by the Spirit of God, because nothing else on this earth can divinely guide us.  God’s generous gift of his Spirit enables us to survive and to do our Father’s will-- on earth as it is in heaven.  Funny, sometimes it takes a long time to know God’s will and direction, but once we see-- we begin to move. And we move like Abraham, who “called to go into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, not knowing whither he went.”  Yes, we are here pitching our tent in a strange country.  We are bondservants and overcomers about our Father’s business. 

 Today, let us sojourn, and remember that this place is not our home!

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 19,2011

CLEAVING BY ABIDING

Abide in me and I in you, As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me (Matthew 15:4)

God wants us to abide in Christ Jesus so that we can bring forth the fruit of an abundant life.  It is through this abiding, this cleaving process that we can do all things through Christ Jesus.  If we separate ourselves from Christ we can do nothing.  Today, let us cleave to Christ Jesus the true vine and enjoy the work of the Spirit in our lives.  

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 18, 2011

TASTE AND SEE

“O taste and see that the LORD is good, blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalm 34:8).

In this Psalm of David, David implores Israel to taste and see that the Lord is good.  I recall a church I attended when I was newly married where they sang a song with lyrics:  Have you tried Jesus?  Indeed we are to have experiences with Jesus where we can confirm that he is good; he is faithful; he provides.

Today, let us have an experience with God.  Let us rely on God, and through prayer let us make supplications for our needs and the needs of our friends-- and then let us watch God work. 

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, July 18,2011

CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER?

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Agreement is essential in the body of Christ.  We must all agree upon the essential truths of the Gospel.  It is from the pulpit that these essential truths must be explained and upheld.  Today, let us preach the Gospel with sincerity and truth.

IN THE BEGINNING …THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR TODAY, July 15, 2011

LOVING SELF

The word of God tells us, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 19:19).  For so many years I saw the idea of loving oneself or self esteem as an exercise of ego, lacking in  humility and grace.  But the Lord has revealed to me that loving one’s self is an important expression of gratitude to God; for life is a gift.  Moreover, when we love ourselves, we honor God’s creation and we bear witness to our worth.  When we allow God to build us up,we are bearing witness to his goodness and his power.  When we love ourselves we are capable of loving others out of  a good and generous spirit. Loving oneself makes you a defensed city.  The enemy will back up.  Today, let us build ourselves up , loving ourselves as an expression of God's love for us.

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, July 14, 2011

Prepared for Battle

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle”(Proverbs 21:31).

If a horse must be prepared for the day of battle, what about you and me?  Today, let us pray to be prepared for the battles of the Lord.

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, July 13, 2011

WHO’S BUILDING WHAT?

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ ( I Corinthians 3:11).

God is building his spiritual house on earth, yet many saints are building their own houses.  God desires us to focus on his family so that we might have unity of Spirit and love for one another which will be evidence that His kingdom has come.  Today, let us be involved in the work of God as he builds His Church.

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, July 12, 2011

THE LORD WILL TAKE YOU UP

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.”

Many times natural relationships come apart--for they are not built on things eternal.  Nevertheless, God’s love for his children can never be undone.  When human relationships fail, God will take over and bring us into his family where we will find rest, peace and fellowship.  Today, let us allow God to take us up into his love!

IN THE BEGINNING …THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, July 11, 2011

HE THAT WATERETH

The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself (Proverbs 11:25).

The church that waters others with the word of God shall be watered also.  Through tithes and offerings saints of God are to supply the church of God: for the laborourer is worthy of his hire.  Today, let us pray that we might give generously to the church of God so that the Church can give out the supply of Christ Jesus.

CLEAVING BY NATURE

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, July 10, 2011

CLEAVING BY NATURE

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. (Ruth 1:16,17)

The nature of God’s love is to cleave, thus those called to Christian marriage must take on this nature.  These words spoken by Ruth so beautifully represent the nature of cleaving.  We don’t leave our family when it becomes convenient or more comfortable.  Though Ruth did not know what hardships might await her, she was steadfast in her determination to stick with her mother in law and with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  She models the love of God as she is “a friend who sticketh closer than a brother" (see Proverbs 18:24). In fact, it was said of Ruth that she, a daughter in law, was “better… than seven sons” (see Ruth 4:15). 


Today, let us be committed to know the love of God, and let us be like Ruth--cleaving by nature.

BUILDING

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 8, 2011

BUILDING

What are you building? What structures are you building on? Jesus said that he was building his church upon a rock, a structure so strong that the gates of hell would not prevail against it.  The structure by which Christ builds his church is our confession of faith as seen in Matthew 16:

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:15-18

 This confession of faith is so strong and so binding that it seals us, defines us and delivers us. We are lively stones in the building of God’s spiritual house.  Today, let us rejoice in God’s building.

WHAT MANNER OF LOVE

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 7, 2011

WHAT MANNER OF LOVE

Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ( I John 3:1)

Our heavenly Father has gifted his children with the wondrous gift of his love. His love is unfailing as seen in Christ Jesus. As we come to know the love of God, we blossom.  The Scriptures tell us that “the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits"  (Daniel 1 1:32).  God desires to work a miracle of transformation in our lives. Just as Jesus turned water to wine, so the love of God has the power to change our lives into something very special.  Today, let us celebrate the Love of God and let it change us into the miracle we were made to be.

                                                                                                                                                

NURSING

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 6, 2011

NURSING

Lift up your eyes round about, and see:  all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Isaiah 60:4

The church of God is to nurse the saints of God.  Full of the spirit of Jesus Christ, the church must be full of the glory of God, the knowledge of God, the wisdom of God and the power of God-- then pour out.  The church is to pour out this glory, knowledge, wisdom and power through the fivefold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These are to minister to the saints: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11, 12,13).

 When I think of nursing I think of the act of bringing to health and healing.  And just as the church must nurse, the saint of God must be nursed, must latch on, and must milk out until satisfied and satiated with God’s abundance.  Today, let us nurse and be nursed.

LABORING TO REST?

 IN THE BEGINNING THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, July 5, 2011

LABOURING TO REST?

  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.   Hebrews 4:11

God has a desire and a work (labor) for your life.   It will profit you much to take time and to do the work of discerning your calling. That is your first labor.  Once you discern your calling, your peace, reward, and rest are gained by engaging in the work you’ve been called to perform.  Consider the parable of the talents. In this parable the talents represent the calling, the work that must be developed or engaged in.  The parable is set forth in Matthew:

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:14-30

In this parable we see that the servant who labors enters into rest:  ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD (Matthew 25:21).  In sharp contrast, the servant who does not work, but buries the talent in the earth is called wicked and slothful and is cast into utter darkness where there is no rest, only weeping and gnashing of teeth. Moreover, we must see that the wicked and slothful servant expressed fear (Matthew 25:25).  He did not operate in faith and he did not enter into rest. 


Today, let us labor to discern our calling and again labor (work diligently) to be profitable servants of God.

FREED TO REST

IN THE BEGINNING …THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 4, 2011

FREED TO REST

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.   Hebrews 4:9-11

The concept of Sabbath is quite powerful.  God calls his chosen children to set apart a day to rest from their work.  The children of Israel had to make many preparations for their Sabbath, and still do.  They must labor to enter into their rest—often preparing the home and the Sabbath meal in advance.  In like manner, the children of God under the new covenant have a rest set aside for them—for you. Today, the Spirit of God desires for you to enter in to His Rest.  He desires for you to have a life marked and made, designed and characterized by his Spirit.  If you will, He desires for you believe in the Love of God for you, until it comforts you and lures you into a life of more abundance.  Like the promised  land flowing with milk and honey that God had for the children of Israel, The Spirit has a land of abundant life for you.  I Corinthians 2:9 says that “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God:  that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”  Today, God’s rest is freely given to you.  Let us cease from our own works and enter in.

GREAT MERCY

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, July 3, 2011

GREAT MERCY

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion;
 slow to anger, and of great mercy. 

Psalm 145:8

As children of God, we are so blessed to have a heavenly Father who loves us-- a Father who loves us so much that he sent his only begotten Son to save us from sin, death and destruction.  Our Father, God, who desired to have unbroken fellowship with us,   sent the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.  Because we believe in Christ Jesus, we are cleansed of our sins and we are made holy, as God is holy.  We are worthy to commune with Abba, Father (Romans 8:15).  Amazingly, when we go astray from the upright path, or we miss the mark of perfection, or we fall into sin-- God is ever there cleaving to us, bringing loving correction, and his goodness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:3,4).  


Today, let us marvel at God’s grace, compassion and great mercy. 

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, July 1, 2011

THE LOVE OF GOD

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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

                                                                                          Romans 8:38, 39

Look at the quality of the love of God as described in these two verses.  Regardless of the condition, the love God does not change.  Apostle Paul is persuaded of the unconditional quality of God’s love: through death and life, through goodness and wickedness, through the present and future, through heights(ups) and depths(downs), through any and every created thing-- God’s love remains connected to his child.  In other words, God cleaves!  This must be why he expects this of his offspring: like father, like son.  Indeed, we are told in the latter portion of this passage that this quality of love is in his son, Christ Jesus. Yes, this cleaving nature is seen in God’s son, which is why our salvation is sure.  Christ cleaves to his church making him the perfect husband.  Interestingly, the Christian marriage vows are designed in the same manner and quality as this passage in Romans: through sickness and health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse.  God expects all of his children to cultivate and walk in the love of God.   Today, let us pray against the tendency to be weak in heart and spirit, and let us pray for the capacity to cleave in and through every situation.