Romans 5:1-11 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. [Oh Church! Is he not worthy of all our love?!] And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So deep is your love for us, Father. So vast beyond all measure, that You would give your only Son, to make us sinners your Son’s treasure. How great was the pain of His searing loss, as you turned your face away from Him. The wounds which marred Your Chosen One bring many sons to glory. O Hallowed be your name, Jehovah Jireh, God Our Provider. Blessed are You, Adonai Our God, King of the Universe, who loves beyond all understanding. Your glory and majesty, power and supremacy, are so huge. Your greatness fills this universe to overflowing. Who are we? Oh God Most High, who are we, puny grasshoppers, that you would be mindful of us? That you would even give us a moment’s thought? We rejected you. You molded and formed us with your own hands, breathed your own breath of life into us, created us with the express purpose of knowing you and having a relationship with you, and we rejected you, preferring our own way, our own desires, over yours. So why would you give us a moment’s thought? Why do you even let us live at all? We deserve judgment, we deserve death. Oh, King Above All Other Kings, we are amazed, we are overwhelmed, by your incredible grace and your overflowing love. We have done nothing to deserve such treasures. All praise, all honor, all glory, all thanksgiving, all worship, belongs to you and you alone. Hallowed…. Hallowed…be your very name. Just your name deserves our worship, let alone everything else about you. Oh how we love you, oh God Most High.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.