God's Love Poured Out ~ 11/17 devotional

His Word: And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5


Observation & Obedience: Enjoy today’s insight into God’ love by Pastor Kenneth Yang of Triumph in Christ in Penang, Malaysia.
God's love in Greek is ‘agape’. It is His constant and unconditional love for us. In Romans 5:5, Paul wrote that God’s love has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Notice how generous God is to us! God doesn't just sprinkle His love in our hearts, but Romans 5:5 says God pours out His love in our hearts!


The bible also says God is love (1 John 4:16). In fact, if you see Galatians 5:22-23, the first fruit of the Spirit of God is ‘love’. Love is the very foundation in our Christian living, and on this love (loving God and loving others), hangs all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:40).


You may say, “Pastor, it’s easier said than done. I find it so hard to love that ‘so and so’. Even the sight of him/her or his/her voice can irritate me!” My friend, stop trying too hard to love someone with your own self-effort and strength. Stop trying to love someone using your mind, willpower or emotions.


These are all in your soul level. The bible says the love of God is being poured out in your heart (Romans 5:5). Here, Paul's talking about your spirit level, your inner man. Love (agape) never fails, even when everything else fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). Your friends, colleagues, superiors, or even your family and loved ones may fail or hurt you at times, but take heart, His love never fails.

What you need to do now is simply ‘receive His love’ first. "Pastor, you mean it's that easy, and nothing else?" Yes, it's that easy, and nothing else. Just receive; as easy as that. Christian life is a life resting in Jesus' finished works, and so, we love, we work, and we minister out of our rest in Him.


When you have been so filled with His love, loving others will not be hard to you anymore, especially those whom you get easily irritated with. God's love will just flow out easily from your heart, because you have first received and experienced His love.


Beloved, His love is for you to receive freely (Romans 8:32). When you have experienced His love being poured out in you, something in your heart changes, and you just can’t help but to love others freely too. Love will just flow out like rivers of living water (John 7:38) from you to others.

Prayer: “Dear God, your constant and unconditional love is too much for me to grasp, yet that’s how I want to love others. I know I can’t do it in my own strength and power; I fail every time I try. Your Word says you have poured, not just sprinkled or dabbed your love into my heart – so it’s there – I just have to receive and recognize it. Help me to draw on the love that is available to me at all times instead of always trying to love others the hard way. I know I’ll never be disappointed. Amen.”


Encouragement: I have decided to stick with love; hate is too great a burden to bear. Martin Luther King Jr.

http://kennethkskang.blogspot.com/2009/07/gods-love-has-been-poured-out-in-your.html