Devotional: The Love of God Poured Into Our Hearts

Verse

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." — Romans 5:8 (ESV)

Biblical context

Paul in Romans 5 articulates the gospel in one of its purest forms: Christ did not die for us because we were good, but "while we were still sinners." The word "love" translates agape, the love that gives without expecting return.

Reflection

God''s love is not earned. There are not enough good works, enough hours in church, enough perfect faith to make it grow. God LOVES. That is what he is (1 John 4:8). His actions flow from his nature, not from our merits. To receive this love is to stop working for it.

Application

1. Read Romans 5:1-11 slowly, noting the words "justified", "peace", "grace", "glory", "love", "Spirit".
2. Review your attempts to earn God''s love. They exhaust but never finish. You can rest today.
3. Witness to someone. "I don''t love you because you deserve it, but because God loved me first."

Prayer

Heavenly Father, today I pause before your agape. I did not work for your love, nor could I work to make it greater. But you love. Christ died for me while I was still a sinner. May this not be doctrine in my mind, but rest in my soul. May your Spirit pour your love into my heart today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Related verses

• 1 John 4:9-10 — "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us."
• Ephesians 2:4-5 — "Because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ."
• John 3:16 — "For God so loved the world."