“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 5:5
Scripture reading: Romans 5:1-5
Have you ever been in a boat, surrounded by water with no land in sight? You can travel for days on the ocean without seeing land. This is a bit of a picture of God’s love. The apostle Paul describes God’s love as poured out. This was not a slow dripping or a mist that evaporated before it hit the ground. Rather, it was a large quantity tipped out in a free flow. For Christians, God’s love is deep and overwhelming.
The perfect verb tense Paul uses shows us that there was a completed action in the past to create this current settled state of love poured out. It is like this: there once was a large, dry valley; but now, the ocean floods the area. After Jesus’ work on the cross, God’s love has been poured out.
Notice how God’s love is poured out. It is through the Holy Spirit. He directs you to Christ by faith as He makes His covenant people spiritually alive in Him when they were dead in sin. Focus on His marvellous work in your heart if you believe in Jesus. He gives you gifts of peace, joy, hope and love. How? By pouring into believers’ hearts knowledge of God’s love.
We’ve considered God’s wisdom, which showed us God’s “mind.” His power displayed God’s “hand.” God’s word is His “mouth.” But His love reveals His heart – His inner being. Believers delight in the Holy Spirit increasing their knowledge of God’s love, which is deeper than the ocean.
Suggestion for prayer
Pray Ephesians 3:14-19
Katelyn Van Haren is a member of Redeemer United Reformed Church in Lacombe, Alberta. She received a liberal arts degree from Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario in honours accounting and is a CPA. Katelyn and her husband have five children. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com