Day 20 – Greater Love – Generosity Maximized 

Romans 8:1-8

The Focus of this Week is the Grace-filled model of Jesus

PAUSE –
Take a deep breath, offer this time and your focus to the Lord with the Psalmist

      Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 

      Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.  

     When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long... 

     Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. 

     I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”                            Psalm 32:1-3,5

REJOICE in his goodness with Psalm 32:11

      And you forgave the guilt of my sin…

     Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing all you who are upright in heart!

On April 7, 2026, Ryan Jennings, father of 3, made the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of his two children.  While swimming off Juno Beach in Florida, Ryan realized his 9-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter were being pulled away from shore by a rip tide.  Without hesitation he quickly moved toward them and threw his son out of the riptide to calmer water. Then immediately swam deeper to assist his 12-year-old daughter.  He kept his daughter raised up above the water with all the energy he could muster – which gradually forced his head under the water. Both children were saved, but Ryan could not be revived. The love of a father for his children will inspire great sacrifice – even unto death. Those children will live the rest of their lives knowing the gift of life was given through the ultimate sacrifice of their father. 

Read and REFLECT –
Consider the magnitude of the sacrifice of Jesus as described in Romans 8:1-8. 

      Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

The Apostle Paul, the author of this letter to the church of Rome, had a very personal identification with the last statement in this passage.  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We know from reading Acts 7-9 that Paul was an “enemy” of the early church. It could be said that Paul was the spearhead of the earliest persecutions against Christians – and was definitely present at the death of Stephen. We can be sure that Paul was reviewing his own story of God’s grace and the impact of the sacrifice of Jesus on his own life when he wrote these words in Romans.  He knew what it meant to be a sinner in need of a Savior. And he knew what it meant to suffer for his faith, as he wrote this letter from prison. Forgiveness almost always has a cost. Surrendering our pride, releasing another from paying the price of an offense, and giving up our rights to seeing “justice” fulfilled are just a few potential costs of forgiveness. This is what makes the price Jesus paid so unimaginable. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Our sin, our betrayal of our creator God, required a painful, incomprehensible price to be paid. And he didn’t wait for us to ask forgiveness. He initiated it. He loved us first and most. 

Reread and REFLECT – Read through these verses again – aloud if possible. 

      Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

What words of grace and generosity stand out to you as you read? Reflect on the generosity of the love of Jesus, the significance of grace extended to the undeserving, the rebellious, the least expected. What benefits are associated with this grace? 

I noticed the following fruits of receiving this gift of grace: justification (a right relationship with God), peace, hope, and an infilling of His love. He died for those who despised Him.

ASK –
Is there anyone from whom you are withholding forgiveness or grace today? Is there anyone who doesn’t deserve to be forgiven in your eyes? Is there someone who is rebellious and unapologetic in your world? What might Jesus say to them today?

YIELD – Invite Jesus to speak words of love, grace, and hope and peace over the troubles and concerns that burden you today. Release to Jesus your broken relationships, painful memories, and any areas of bitterness.  He died to cover all of those for you. Receive His grace today.  Offer that same grace to others. 

WWJDIHWM - What Would Jesus Do If He Was Me?

He was anointed to preach and proclaim:

• Freedom – of those held captive, imprisoned

• Recovery – of sight for the blind (restoration of what once was)

• Release – of those held in bondage, trapped, with no rights or resources

• Favor – Jubilee, the year/season of forgiveness of debts and new beginnings