Love Poured Out

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

Romans 5:3-5 

Why do we love God?  As Paul is presenting his case for justification by faith he touches on various results of the work of God through Christ. In the portion of our text that is our mediation for today he says that the hope we have as the end result of tribulations does not disappoint. The reason he gives is that the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Thus, we are certain of the value of all the things we endure because at the foundation is this love of God which the Holy spirit has poured out in our hearts. This love which we have received generates in us a love response. We love God because He first loved us. In the succeeding verses Paul will show how God has actively demonstrated His love for us by His sacrifice of Christ. He has not merely spoken of love, but rather has actively shown it to us in practical ways. For our purposes today, we will dwell simply upon the fact that God, being love, has communicated His love to us in the most intimate manner by using the Holy Spirit as His agent to pour out His love in our hearts. We do not drum it up or generate it ourselves, it is from God to us and we receive it joyfully. It comes along with our justification. 

Our Gracious and Loving God, 
we rejoice that You have extended Your love to us. 
We praise You that we find all of it wrapped together, 
in the Person of Christ.  

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning