7, 8, 9 Things!

While studying and listening to various messages the last few weeks, I found it interesting that the Bible has so many different lists. A few that really stuck with me and should be a guide and encouragement to us in our every day lives are the following seven, eight and nine things:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall...
1. tribulation, or
2. distress, or
3. persecution, or
4. famine, or
5. nakedness, or
6. peril, or
7. sword? (Romans 8:35)
These seven things are pretty serious and can really cause us to become discouraged and wonder if God really loves us and will provide all our needs. Most of them can be caused by outside forces and we may have very little control over them.  

However, the following seven things can separate of from the love of God because they come from within us:
These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
1. A proud look,
2. A lying tongue,
3. Hands that shed innocent blood,
4. A heart that devises wicked plans,
5. Feet that are swift in running to evil,
6. A false witness who speaks lies,
7. And one who sows discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19)

We're all guilty of committing at least one of the above abominations towards God, and very few of us can stop all together because we are natural, in flesh bodies, and God is very clear regarding mankind, "...that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5) "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,..." (Matthew 15:19)

But thanks be to God that ...if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2) That's why we can have full confidence in the following eight things:
For I am persuaded that...
1. neither death nor life,
2. nor angels
3. nor principalities
4. nor powers,
5. nor things present
6. nor things to come,
7. nor height nor depth,
8. nor any other created thing,
...shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

And just so we wouldn't have to wonder from day-to-day, "Am I really saved?", "Does God really love me?", "Will I really go to heaven when I die, especially if I haven't asked for forgiveness of every sin I've committed?"; Jesus promised, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth,..." (John 14:15-17)

We can rest assured in ...the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) If we're filled with the Holy Spirit of God, we're saved and we will start producing the nine "fruit" of evidence in our lives, as He continues to change us from the inside out:
...the fruit of the Spirit is...
1. love,
2. joy,
3. peace,
4. longsuffering,
5. kindness,
6. goodness,
7. faithfulness,
8. gentleness,
9. self-control.
Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)