Scripture: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 (NIV)
When we look at the cross of Christ, many images and meanings rise to the surface. One of the most beautiful and personal is the simple truth that Jesus died to show us the depth of God’s love. This is at the heart of what theologians call the Moral Influence Theory of Atonement—the idea that Christ’s sacrificial death reveals God’s love in such a profound way that it moves our hearts, calls us to repentance, and inspires us to live differently.
It’s not that God needed to be convinced to love us; rather, we needed to see that love in action. We needed to be awakened. In a world where love is often transactional and temporary, the cross stands as an eternal symbol of unconditional grace. Jesus, though innocent, willingly took on suffering—not to satisfy a legal requirement alone, but to awaken love within us.
This theory of atonement reminds us that salvation is not just a transaction; it’s a transformation. The love that hung on the cross breaks down our defenses. It melts our pride. It calls us to love in return.
The early Christian writer Peter Abelard once wrote, “The purpose and cause of the Incarnation was that Christ might illuminate the world by His wisdom and excite it to the love of Himself.” That’s the heart of moral influence: Jesus, through His life and death, awakens us to God’s goodness and beckons us to follow in His steps.
So today, let the love of Jesus soften your heart. Let it shape how you see yourself—and how you treat others. Let it move you to forgive, to serve, and to love without conditions.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us the heart of the Father through Your life and death. Your love displayed on the cross is more powerful than any words. Let that love change me. Help me to love as You have loved, and to live a life that reflects Your grace. Amen.
Reflection Question:
How has the love of Jesus on the cross changed the way you see God—and how you live your life?
