convinced

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

Love has a way of being convincing, very very convincing. When you love a certain hobby or activity, like golf or cooking, painting or bushwalking…you endure its frustrations, its challenges and its costs; because you are convinced. Convinced that all those frustrations and challenges and costs are nothing compared to being able to participate and enjoy.

And when the hobby or game or activity is successful or won, the victory and achievement is shared with others who are loved. When a new meal is cooked, those who are loved share in it. When a great golf score is achieved, the celebration is shared with others, others feel and enter into that joy, achievement and success.

Romans says that because of love, we are invited to share in the conquering victory over death accomplished by Jesus. Jesus shares this victory with those who believe, because He loves us. And such is that sharing of victory, such is the love that the writer says, He is convinced. Love is convincing. And so convincing that there is a confidence that with death conquered, there is nothing than can separate from the love of Jesus.

Believing in Jesus begins the journey of becoming more and more convinced of the love of Jesus, by the love of Jesus.