38 I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers 39 or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.
Reflection
One of the most powerful and moving moments of my life took place on the floor of the General Conference a year ago, after the vote was taken to remove the anti-LGBTQ language from the Book of Discipline. After the vote, delegates and visitors gathered and spontaneously began singing this song, written by Mark Miller, a musical legend of the UMC who, through the years, has also been my friend, seminary teacher and choir director:
No matter what people say,
Say or think about me,
I am a child, I am a child of God.
No matter what people say,
Say or think about you,
You are a child, you are a child of God,
No matter what the world says,
Says or thinks about me,
I am a child, I am a child of God.
No matter what the Church says,
Decisions, pronouncements on you,
You are a child, you are a child of God.
And there is nothing and no one
who can separate, they can’t separate
you from the truth that you’re someone.
You are family.
You are meant to be a child, a child of God.
You are a child, a child of God.
"Child of God," Mark Miller (hear Mark discuss & play this song here)
In that moment, the truth of Mark’s words took on a new resonance. Though the Church for decades had tried to tell people otherwise, the reality of Romans 8:38-39 could no longer be denied.
So whenever the voices try to tell you that you are less than, that you don’t matter, that God doesn’t care about you – whether they come from outside or within, hold fast to this truth. You are a beloved child of God. And nothing can separate you from God’s love for you.
Nothing.
by Joe Monahan
For Pondering and Prayer
If you are reading this in the app, today you might want to open the devotional on the website so that you can click the link above and hear Mark sing these words. Let this simple, beautiful song be a touchstone for your spirit through the week.
Prayer: No matter what anyone else may tell me, Lord, remind me today that I am your child. Remind me that I am loved beyond measure, even when I have a hard time believing for myself. And challenge me today to remember that what’s true for me is true for others too. Amen.
