Monday, October 5 — Loved Before We Got It Right

Most of us can name the day we felt we had finally earned someone's respect. Far fewer of us can name a day we felt fully loved when we hadn't earned a thing.

Romans 5:1-10 — KJV

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Romans 5:1-10 — WEB

1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: 5 and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. 8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

Explanation

Paul wrote Romans to a church in the capital of the empire, a city that ran on rank, reputation, and who owed whom. The believers there were a mix of Jews and Gentiles who were still sorting out how they fit together. In the first four chapters Paul argues that everyone stands in the same place before God and that God sets people right through faith, not performance. Chapter 5 opens with a big "therefore": here is what that gets us. Peace with God. Access into grace. A hope that does not leave us embarrassed.

Notice that Paul says we already have this peace. It is not a prize at the end of a good record. He even finds a use for hard times: trouble teaches patience, patience builds character, and character grows hope, because God's love has been poured into our hearts. Then he gets to the center of it. When we were weak, when we were ungodly, when we were sinners, even enemies, Christ died for us. Paul admits that people will hardly die for a righteous person, and maybe for a really good one someone might dare it. God proved His love in the opposite direction: at our worst, not our best.

That is the doorway into Sunday's lesson. Our unit is called "Lacking Leadership and a Moral Compass," and Sunday's reading in Judges 2 shows a people choosing badly, generation after generation. The title of the lesson, "God Works Despite Evil," only makes sense if God's love does not wait on our getting it right. Romans 5 is the New Testament version of that same truth. If Christ died for us while we were still sinners, then our worst chapters are not the end of the story, and they are not what decides how God feels about us.

Plenty of us carry a quiet ledger. A parent who needed us to be perfect. A boss who remembers every miss. Our own voice, replaying the thing we said or the thing we did not do. We pray as if we are on probation. Paul says we are not. This week, when you fail in the ordinary ways, the short temper in the kitchen, the missed deadline, the text you wish you could unsend, try starting with "I am still loved" instead of starting with hiding. Grace does not make us careless. It makes us honest, because there is nothing left to hide behind.

Thought for the Day

God loved us before we ever got it right.

Reflection Question

Where are you still acting like you are on probation with God, and what would change if you believed you are already loved?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for loving us when we had nothing to offer. We confess how often we try to earn what You have already given. Settle our hearts in Your peace today. Help us live like people who are loved, not people who are afraid. In Jesus' name, Amen.

This week we walk toward Sunday's lesson: God Works Despite Evil.