Devotion: Love and Righteousness in Harmony
Scripture Focus: Romans 3:25
(NIV)
"God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding
of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his
righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed
beforehand unpunished."
1. The Divine Harmony:
Righteousness Rooted in Love
God’s righteousness is not cold
and detached—it is overflowing with love. And His love is not permissive or
indulgent—it is rooted in holiness. At the cross, these two divine qualities
meet. Jesus’ sacrifice satisfies God’s justice and at the same time displays
His mercy.
Without the cross, love would have
to overlook sin, compromising holiness. And righteousness would demand judgment
without mercy. But in Jesus, "righteousness and peace kiss each
other" (Psalm 85:10). God’s wrath against sin and His love for sinners
are not in conflict—they are fulfilled together.
Reflect: How does Christ’s
sacrifice deepen your awe for God's balanced character?
2. The Gift of Choice:
Invitation, Not Coercion
God's love respects our will. He
does not force salvation upon anyone. He offers it as a gift—to be received by
faith. If God had forced His salvation on us, the relationship would not be
genuine; it would be control, not love.
A true relationship always requires
trust. That is why faith—simple, sincere trust—is the way to respond to God’s
grace. Faith is not a human work; it’s a heart posture of surrender. Like a
hand reaching out to receive a gift, faith allows us to embrace what God has
already prepared.
Consider: Have you received
His invitation? Are there hesitations in your heart that you need to surrender?
3. The Necessity of Grace: Our
Helplessness, His Intervention
Humanity cannot save itself. We
are not merely flawed—we are spiritually dead apart from Christ (Ephesians
2:1). If salvation were up to us, we would remain lost. But God, seeing our
helpless condition, acted in love.
Romans 5:6 says, "You see,
at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the
ungodly." And John 3:16 reminds us that this act was motivated by
love: "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son."
Grace means God took the initiative. He did what we could never do—He gave His
Son to bring us back to Himself.
Ask Yourself: Where do I
still try to earn what God has freely given? How can I rest more fully in His
grace?
4. Relationship Through Faith:
The Doorway to Harmony
Trust is the core of every
meaningful relationship, including our relationship with God. It’s not our
performance, intellect, or rituals that bring us close to Him—it’s childlike
faith. This faith opens the door to a loving relationship, where God is not
only our Savior but our Father and Friend.
Through faith, we receive
forgiveness, healing, and new life. It’s a choice that brings no pain—only
surrender and joy.
Think On This: Am I living
from a place of trust in God’s heart, or from fear and striving?
Application Questions
- How does understanding God’s blend of righteousness
and love shape your view of sin, grace, and forgiveness?
- Are there any areas in your life where you struggle
to trust God or others? How can you bring those to Him today?
- How can you model this harmony of love and
righteousness in your relationships—with truth, grace, and integrity?
A Prayer of Response
Heavenly Father, thank You for
the cross, where Your righteousness and love met in perfect unity. Thank You
for offering salvation freely, not through force but through invitation. I
acknowledge my helplessness and receive Your grace by faith. Teach me to trust
You more deeply and to reflect Your character in this world—loving truly,
standing for truth, and living in holiness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Improve and complete this devotion
Love and Righteousness in Harmony
Romans 3:25 NIV
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.
He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.
#1 Righteousness has love within and Love must have righteousness within.
#2 Christ's sacrificial death for man achieved this complete righteousness and love.
#3 One more key point is - Man is given the freedom to choose whether he wants to receive this salvation by God.
If God purely by love, forces His salvation on man, then man is not independent and the relationship is false.
#4 The choice is without pains, it is simply by faith and trust. Trust the basic ingredient of any relationship.
By trusting receiving God's offer, men and God can have relationship.
#5 Since man is unable to save himself, God has to intervene and offer His own Son, and make it possible for man to be saved.
Application Questions
A Short Prayer
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