September 1, 2026

Adhesive

Romans 8:38–39

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. 

Dear Readers,

Today’s stamp from Hungary depicts a worker welding. Iron and steel are welded together inseparably. Precious metals such as gold and silver are soldered together. And paper and plastics are glued together inseparably.

The Egyptians were already familiar with such techniques some thousand years ago. In Europe, craftsmen used these techniques during the Middle Ages. Bookbinders needed glue to make their books. Glue was also used to build musical instruments. Our automotive industry uses a lot of adhesives in the construction of cars. I’ve read that an estimated 10 to 20 kilograms of adhesives are used for this purpose. I’m sure you’ve used glue to stick something together yourself. A paper kite for the kids? Or have you soldered something together for your model train set? If it was done correctly, it held together.

The Apostle Paul speaks of a very different kind of bond: it is God´s love. Through this love, God unites Himself with us—inseparably. This is what the Apostle tells us in the Letter to the church in Rome. No power in the visible or invisible world can ever separate us Christians from the love of God, which came into our hearts through the Lord Jesus Christ. God has bound us inseparably to Himself and to His love. His love is stronger than even the strongest adhesive. We are inseparably “welded together” with God into one unity—now and for all eternity. „Because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. “ (Letter to the Romans 5:5b).

I was reminded of an old hymn from 1598. The German pastor Cyriakus Schneegass wrote the hymn “In You Is Joy in All Suffering, O Sweet Jesus Christ.” Then he sings his Hallelujah to God’s inseparable love: “We cling to You in death and life; nothing can separate us. Hallelujah!” We cling to God, who has poured out His love into our hearts. Halleluja!

That’s why it doesn’t matter how good or bad our circumstances are. Nothing can separate us from His love. Not the prayers that went unanswered. Not our fears in difficult times, not our worries about tomorrow, not even illness or death. We are firmly rooted in God’s love. He has bound Himself inseparably to us! And I want to remind myself of this bond repeatedly. Nothing can separate me from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ.

How about writing these wonderful Bible verses from the Book of Romans on a piece of paper and stick it next to your bathroom mirror? So that in the morning, while brushing your teeth, you’ll know: no matter what happens today—I am loved by God. Nothing can separate me from this love. And in the evening, when you brush your teeth again, read it once more and then fall asleep trusting in God’s promise: No one and nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

Thank you for visiting me and listening to me. I look forward to seeing you again at the next short sermon on September 15 and until then, may our good God bless you.

This text was translated using DeepL, edited by R. Jordan