Romans 5:8 2/18/2020*

“But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Most of us are familiar with this verse and probably learned it when we were young... But have you considered it as an adult? It is a powerful statement that unfortunately loses impact with familiarity.

Read it again as though you’ve never read it before…It is astonishing.

This world does not contain that kind of love. You and I don’t forgive people who are not sorry for what they’ve done.  We demand remorse and change before we even consider allowing someone who has offended us back into our circle.

However, this verse says God loves you so much that He allowed His Son to be sacrificed for you while you were not only - unapologetic - but still actively sinning against Him.

You weren’t sorry for what you did…and you were still doing it.  Yet, as you broke God’s heart – He gave His Son for your redemption.

Think about that. Think about loving someone so much that while they were attacking you – you were finding a way to save them… That is God’s love for you.

That is why legalism and thinking you have earned His love is so offensive.  He loved you while you were rejecting Him. He doesn’t love us because we obey Him - we obey Him because He loves us.

If you can grasp that concept it changes everything… it is the difference in pulling a string - and pushing one… trying to earn His love produces frustration and bitterness…if you are grateful and secure in His love - it produces spontaneous obedience from a joyful heart… It is life altering.

Understanding that God loved us while we didn’t deserve it - removes anxiety, fear, and depression and produces stability, courage, and discipline.  Grasping this truth produces security that is offered nowhere else.

Accept the unconditional love that God is offering you today.  Understand it is a gift and live in that freedom. Let the truth of His stubborn love fill your heart so full that you can’t help but splash it out on everyone you meet.

“Here's the paradox. We can fully embrace God's love only when we recognize how completely unworthy of it we are.”
― Ann Tatlock