Daily Dose of the Word of God - Romans 5: 3-8

Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship

Transcript

Erin Pacheco  0:00  

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s Daily Dose of the Word of God. Today is Friday, March 28 and Sunday is coming!  I’m Erin Pacheco.  It’s the season of Lent, and we are journeying with Jesus toward the cross. Our scripture today is from Romans 5:3-8.

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Let us rejoice 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.

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Who, or what, makes you feel loved? Recently, like in this passage, I had a moment where I found myself suddenly facing a trial. Only I confess: I didn’t rejoice. I mostly felt distress over the situation — that is, until I shared it with a family member, and their loving, gentle response wrapped me in feelings of safety, comfort, and belonging. It didn’t change the situation, but it did give me a sense of endurance and hope.  Have you experienced kindness like that? Small gestures of love that give you strength to keep going? How much more are we anchored through difficult times when we contemplate the love of God, who loves not just through small gestures but through the ultimate act of sacrifice and service — dying for us in Christ, when we were “utterly helpless” and sinful and completely undeserving. Paul, in the next verses of Romans, goes on to call us friends of God — restored to full relationship with God through the death and life of Jesus. Wrapped in his arms, carried in his love, no matter what comes our way. This is a weekend of service. We’re not gathering for a worship service, but we are worshipping through service to others. Whether you’re packing food, giving blood, ministering to our neighbors, or traveling with family and friends, may you know how much you are loved and held by God in Christ. And may your eyes be open to ways that God can use your words and actions to show his love to the hurting people around you.   

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Let’s pray. Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with the love of God. Help us know, deeply, how much we are loved. And help us to share the love of Jesus with others, through acts of kindness and service that point them to you. Amen.