God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us...[B]ut God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:1-11

God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us...[B]ut God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:5, 8

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued my study of chapter six The Blessings of Justification By Faith, which covers Romans 5:1-11.  My focus today is Romans 5:5-8 which my commentary refers to using the heading We Know a Love Like No Other Love.

V5-8 starts with how the hope we have referenced in v2 and v4 does not put us to shame as the Holy Spirit helps us during our period of need during times of trouble - and this help manifests as God pouring love (v5) into our heart - what an incredible image.  I can't image God pouring a small amount of love as He is infinite! We then see how God loved us SO much (John 3:16) that He sent His Son to die on our behalf - while we were still sinners. Paul remarks how dying for another is rarely done for a righteous person, and it might happen for a good person (v7), but he has made it clear (see also Romans 1-3) that none of us are righteous and all of us are broken, sinful, and undeserving of God's gift of salvation. 

My commentary begs to differ with those who describe Paul as a writer of arguments while John writes of love.  It points out that Paul refers to the word love 75 out of the 116 times the word is use in the New Testament. The commentary then goes on to state:

1. the greatness of God's love is displayed on the cross (v8); "[G]enuine love is always sacrificial" and we see Jesus redeeming us at a price we can never fully comprehend. An appropriate response is to love others as God love us and this is in fact what God commands (John 13:34)
2. the greatness of God's love is displayed in our unworthiness (v6-8); Paul in v9 refers to us as enemies of God yet God still died for us!  That is love for sure like no other!

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are indeed amazing that You would die for me - Your enemy!  I am so undeserving of what You have done for me and what You continue to do for me and I am in awe of how You love me. Thank You Jesus!  Yet again I am undeserving.  My sin of anger, etc. continues. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy....And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.

Titus 1-3

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy....And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. Titus 3:4-5, 8

Day 351 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning I read the Paul's first letter to Titus. My commentary* indicates: "Titus is apparently facing some of the same challenges as Timothy in his efforts to preserve doctrinal purity and to establish effective local congregations. Therefore, Paul’s letter to Titus bears a resemblance to his letter to Timothy in its emphasis on false teaching, church organization, and instruction in Christian living."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

The latter words of scripture from Titus remind me of a book I recently read by Tony Merida, Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down. The book discusses that God's love should be understood as so "deep and wide" that we are both overwhelmed and compelled to love Him and others in return.  We so deeply care to serve Him and others that our lives become "living sacrifices" through daily acts of justice, love, hospitality, care, advocacy, and humility. It is through these daily acts that the world see in us something that is supernatural and people are drawn to Him. 

My hope and prayer is that I am and can demonstrate what Pastor Merida discusses in his book and what is clear from scripture.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loved me while I was still sinning, and loved me even before I even existed, knowing everything about me, including how I am broken.  Yet You love me and You died for me...thank You Jesus!  The greatest gift of all time...and completely undeserved.  My sin is great - worry, gossip, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. v16-19

Until we meet Jesus face-to-face in Heaven, we won't know the fullness of God, but Paul desires for us to experience the love of God that he experienced.  John Piper describes this love here.  Paul wants us to know that God's love for us is so wide, long, high and deep that it surpasses knowledge! It is so great that our human minds cannot comprehend its dimensions.  We must ponder on this and allow this to deposit in our hearts so that we can access this love as part of a deepening relationship with Christ that serves to transform our hearts and lives.  It is love that is undeniable. It must drive us to Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God whose love for me is beyond my comprehension - I know You love me.  It is clear.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such love - I know this as well.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.

Psalm 65

When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. v3

There have been times when I have been overwhelmed by my sins.  Acknowledging our need for God not just once but every day is critical in our relationship with Jesus.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

We must also be overwhelmed by who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and what He continues to do for us.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

 

How do you think we will be when "we are filled to the measure of all the fullness of God"?  We of course are going to be on fire for the Lord, loving and serving Him as He intends for us.  We should strive to be overwhelmed by the fullness of God.

My Prayer: Lord, You love me beyond what I can imagine or describe in words.  I cannot even begin to think about the love that nailed You to the cross.  I am not worth such love...I am broken.  Thank You Jesus for Your love, all that You have done, all that You are and You provide for all of my needs - apart from You I can do nothing!  Forgive me for my worry and lack of action to serve You as You desire for me.  Help me overcome my sin and inaction.  Help me turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.