Love Poured Out | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus
“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
For a liquid to flow easily, its molecules have to be able to move freely at a microscopic level. Scientists have fancy formulas to measure the movement, or viscosity, of a fluid. If it’s thick and there’s a lot of friction between the molecules, the liquid has high viscosity and can’t flow very quickly. Think molasses or lava. If a liquid has little friction between the molecules, though, the viscosity is low and the substance can flow quickly and with ease. Think water.
In the early days of the Christian faith, the apostle Paul was entrusted to clearly communicate the gospel of Jesus to a hurting and confused world. In his letter to 1st century Roman believers, Paul does exactly that, laying a foundation of what it means to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul claimed that now— through the death and resurrection of Christ— all people, not just those of Jewish descent, could experience peace with God in their hearts. This good news, the gospel, would be “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). A true phenomenon.
Paul labored to communicate the transformative power of the gospel in terms that his readers could relate to. He wrote plainly, directing believers to not be judgmental toward others and warning against attitudes of entitlement when it comes to God’s kindness and patience (Romans 2:1-4).
Believers don’t behave in these ways, not because we’ve gotten really good at modifying our behavior, but because we are quite literally being transformed from the inside out. The element responsible for this radical transformation in our lives… is love.
When the reality of God’s love encounters our thirsty souls, it hits different. The experience is revolutionary, completely other-than. There’s not much we can compare God’s love to because nothing else we experience can match the purity, authenticity and permanence of it.
But Paul doesn’t stop trying to fit it all into words. In chapter 5, we read about the transformative work of the gospel, how it re-shapes our understanding of life’s most confusing parts — it even re-shapes our understanding of suffering. Now, because of Jesus’ victory over death itself, even the most painful and confusing experiences are opportunities for hope (Romans 5).
Why? How?
“…because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts…” (v. 5).
Poured out. It’s not dried up and stiff. It’s not high in viscosity and slow-going. God’s love is alive and moving, rich and nourishing. It pours like water and refreshes in the best way. I believe that Paul describes God’s love like this on purpose. In fact, the phrase he uses here in verse 5 can mean, not just a pouring out, but a gush.
This exchange between us and God is not like a business transaction. His love isn’t described as a paycheck that gets distributed at the end of the week. Instead, His love for us rushes, gushes, pours and fills through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Do you know what that feels like? When was the last time you felt the overwhelming sense of confidence that thrives in the heart of a beloved child? Our Father loves us fiercely, and to help us understand, He uses imagery that we can relate to.
Take a minute to pray before moving on from this moment. Imagine God’s love being poured out into your heart like fresh water into dry soil. Ask His Spirit to flood your heart afresh so you can feel loved, full of hope and ready to impact the world around you.
For Your Journal
Find It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.
“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
Fix It:
In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:
Love Poured Out
I am LOVED
Feel It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit so that you begin to feel like the new person you’re becoming in Christ. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.
Father, your love is altogether different than other kinds of love. It is alive and refreshing in the exact way my soul needs. Thank you for loving me. Help me to feel your fatherly affection over me today. I want to walk in the confidence and freedom that comes with being your child, but it’s so hard. Flood my heart with your love by the power of your Spirit today so that I can have hope, and let my interactions with others be fueled by your love. Amen.