No Separation, Ever

 

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

—Romans 8:35-37

“Hold my hand... please?” Countless moms have spoken those words over the years, as they guide their dearly loved children along the pathway of life. In fact, that loving gesture of handholding has found a very secure place in our cultural norms. Holding hands is a signal of purposeful dependence, physical closeness, and deep love.

Often, one of the first acts of young people in love—and older people, too—is to hold hands. It signals the first bond-building experience between people who find joy in each other’s company. It is right and proper that we don’t want to be separated from the one who loves us and the one we love.

One of the best known and most respected college choirs in the United States is the choir from St. Olaf College in Minnesota, conducted by Anton Armstrong. Quoting from the choir’s website:

The St. Olaf Choir, comprised of 75 mixed voices, is the premier a cappella choir in the United States. For over a century, the choir has set a standard of choral excellence and remained at the forefront of choral artistry. The ensemble’s annual tour brings its artistry and message to thousands of people across the nation and around the world.

Sixteen years ago, I had the privilege of attending a concert by this fabulous choir and of hosting two of the students in my home. One striking part of their performance was that, throughout the concert, the choir members held hands. They did this then, and continue to do this today, as a symbol of unity, but also as a way of creating an intimate and highly collegial connection between choir members as they sing. Just seeing these 75 young people holding hands and singing to the glory of God is breathtaking.

In our relationship with God, we can rest assured that He will never leave us. He will never let go of our hand. The Apostle Paul confirmed this great truth when he wrote these words found in Romans 8:35-37:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

As we begin a new day, let’s remember that we walk the road of this life with God holding us in His loving hand. We are never alone. We are never without His care. We are never without His overwhelming and never-failing love.

Let me help begin this new day by sharing a promotional video featuring the St. Olaf College Choir and its Conductor, Anton Armstrong. Be sure to notice how they hold each other’s hands:

 

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