Dear Friends,
There is nothing better suited to revive our love for Christ than to remember His love for us. That is what today’s devotional is all about. God bless you.

Because of Calvary,
John Janney

• Romans 5:1-11 (ESV)

  1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

  6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

    O CHRIST, WHAT BURDENS BOWED THY HEAD

“O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head:

Our load was laid on Thee;

Thou stoodest in the sinner’s stead

To bear all ill for me,

A victim led, Thy blood was shed!

Now there’s no load for me.

Death and the curse were in our cup:

O Christ ‘twas full for Thee!

But Thou hast drained the last dark drop,

‘Tis empty now for me:

That bitter cup, love drank it up,

Now blessings draught for me.

Jehovah lifted up His rod:

O Christ it fell on Thee!

Thou wast sore stricken of Thy God;

There’s not a stroke for me.

Thy tears, Thy blood, beneath it flowed;

Thy bruising healeth me.

The tempest’s awful voice was heard:

O Christ, it broke on Thee!

Thy open bosom was my ward,

It braved the storm for me.

Thy form was scarred, Thy visage Marred,

Now cloudless peace for me.

Jehovah bade His sword awake:

O Christ it woke ‘gainst Thee;

Thy blood the flaming blade must slake,

Thy heart its sheath must be.

All for my sake, my peace to make:

Now sleeps that sword for me.

For me, Lord Jesus, Thou hast died,

And I have died in Thee:

Thou’rt risen my bands are all untied;

And now Thou livest in me;

When purified, made white, and tried,

Thy glory then for me.”

[Annie B. Cousin]