LOVE Lent 27

Scripture

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Romans 5.1-5

Reflection

In Romans St Paul is keen to remind us that the work of being justified/reconciled/healed is not ours alone, but is done by a God who responds to our reaching out, to our faith - a God who offers grace above all. This knowledge is to inspire and to guide us no matter what we go through, good or bad. In our sufferings, recognizing that God has poured love into our hearts is a reminder of the hope we have - of knowing, living in, growing in, abiding in, the love of God. Of the God whose love is beyond our understanding, yet who shares that love with us, and accompanies us through even the hardest of times, even the deepest of suffering.

God's love is generous - poured into our hearts.

Prayer

A Call To Worship based on Romans 5.1-5 

In the midst of our failures,
We stand in God’s grace.

In the midst of our struggles,
We boast in our hope through Christ.

In the midst of our suffering,
We claim the endurance given by the Holy Spirit.

In every part of our lives,
The love of our Divine Creator has been poured into our hearts.

Let us be open to this love as we join together in prayer.

From Spacious Faith (with minor amendment)