OUR DAILY BREAD : GOD'S LOVE AND OURS

[cimi]

March 7
Saturday


GOD'S LOVE
AND OURS

READ:
Romans 5:1-11
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While we were sitll
sinners, Christ died for
us. ___Romans 5:8
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Franklin Graham regrets it now, but in his youth he was wild and rebellious. One day he went roaring up to his dad's house on his Harley Davidson motorcycle to ask for some money. Dressed in his leathers, dusty and bearded, he burst into his father's living room--and walked right into a meeting of Billy's executive board.

Without hesitation, Billy Graham identified Franklin as his son. Then he proudly introduced him to every member of the board. Billy did not apologize for his son or show any shame or guilt. Franklin wrote later in his autobiography, Rebel With a Cause, that the love and respect his father gave him that day never left him, even during his rebellious years.

Our children don't have to earn our love. To withhold love for our own selfish purposes is to follow the enemy, not God. God's love for us is undeserved. We did nothing to earn it; no good in us merited it. "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). In all our relationships, especially with our children, we must genuinely show that same kind of love.

We are called to treat our children, and all people, with love and respect. It helps to remember what we were when Christ died for us.
__Dave Egner
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`````````Help me, Lord, to show respect and love to others,```````
`````````always mindful of the fact that each of us is created`````````
````````in Your image. May Your love shine through my life``````````
````````````and bring praise and honor to You. Amen.``````````````
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God's love changes prodigal sons into precious saints.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 5:1-11*************

1 Therefore, having been
justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through
whom also we have access
by faith into this grace in
which we stand, and rejoice
in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only that, but we
also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation
produces perseverance;

4 and perseverance,
character; and character,
hope. 5 Now hope does not
disappoint, because the love
of God has ben poured out
in our hearts by the Holy
Spirit who was given to us.

6 For when we were still
without strength, in due
time Christ died for the
ungodly. 7 For scarecely for a
righteous man will one die;
yet perhaps for a good man
someone would even dare
to die. 8 But God
demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ
died for us. 9 Much more
then, having now been
justified by His blood, we
shall be saved from wrath
through Him. 10 For if when
we were enemies we were
reconciled to God through
the death of His son, much
more, having been
reconciled, we shall be
saved by His life. 11 and not
only that, but we also
rejoice in God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, through
whom we have now
received the reconciliation.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Notice how elements of a life of faith build upon each other (Rom.
5:3-5). Tribulations lead to perseverance, which leads to character,
which leads to hope. God does not waste anything--using even the
hardships of life to shape us for our good and His glory.
__Bill Crowder