The Gospel According to Candy Aisles
Read The Daily:
“I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love…” – Romans 8:38–39
When my kids were little, we had a recurring standoff at the grocery store. I’d tell them before we even walked in: We are not getting candy. But five minutes in, like clockwork, they’d look up with those sweet, manipulative eyes and ask, “Can we get candy, Dad?” It didn’t matter that I had already said no. It didn’t matter that I explained why. They forgot—or ignored it—and asked again like it was the first time.
It used to make me laugh. But then I realized—I do the exact same thing with God.
I’ve heard God loves me. I’ve even felt it. But then life gets messy, or I mess something up, and suddenly I’m back asking, Wait, are we good? Are You still with me? It’s like I forget everything I already knew. Call it spiritual amnesia. We remember the guilt, the mistakes, the failed plans—but we forget the grace. We forget we’re already loved, already wanted, already forgiven.
And that’s what makes Romans 8 so powerful. Paul doesn’t say, “I feel like God loves me.” He says, “I am convinced.” That means he decided to believe it—even when it didn’t feel true. He had lived through betrayal, trauma, and failure, and still landed on this: Nothing can separate you from God’s love. Not your past. Not your worst day. Not even your second worst day.
That’s the journey—learning to believe, not because we’ve earned it, but because Jesus already proved it. You don’t have to climb your way into God’s approval. You don’t have to beg for candy. You’re already loved more than you know. Nothing—literally nothing—can undo that.
Prayer for the Day
God what are you showing me? What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.
Read The New Testament In A Year
Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. Matthew 19:16-30
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. Ephesians 1:1-14