But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8
If you ask young children how they know their parents love them, they will give cute answers. They will tell you that they know their parents love them because they tuck them in at night, sing songs, write special notes for them in their lunch boxes, or play on the playground with them. Kids will give different answers, but many have one thing in common: Their answers have nothing to do with any words said. Instead, their answers are related to actions that demonstrate love. After all, anyone can say, "I love you," but they prove their love by showing love for the people around them. Even Scripture teaches us that God showed us how much He loved us. The apostle Paul taught us how much God loved us in Romans 5. In this chapter, he wrote, "Most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good" (verse 7). This statement is true. Not many people would not willingly give up their lives for even a really good person, but they might be convinced to give up their lives for someone who is particularly good. Paul continued his thinking, saying, "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" (verse 8). While not many people would lay down their lives for a good person, God sent Jesus to die on the cross for us while we were "still sinners." By sending Jesus to die, God showed how much He loved us. He held nothing back when it came to saving us. This, my friends, is extravagant love. God's example of love is a model for us. Like God showed how much He loves us, we can also demonstrate our love by showing our kids, families, and friends just how much we love them. We can show them we love them by sacrificing for and caring for them. We can lay down our desires for theirs. This, my friends, is what it means to show our love to the people around us. What about you? Are you living in such a way that you are showing your kids, spouse, families, and friends your love? Are your actions proving your love for them? Saying "I love you" is essential, and showing your love is just as necessary. Let's leave no doubt in our kids', spouses', and friends' minds that we love them because we prove it by our actions. Let's follow the example of God, who sent His only Son to die on the cross while we were sinners, breaking His heart. That, my friends, is the greatest love we will ever experience.
One of the ways we demonstrate our love for our kids, family members, and friends is by bringing them to church to experience God's love. So plan to join us this weekend and celebrate God's love at one of our services. Invite a friend to join you! One of the most loving things you can do for your kids, family members, and friends is to introduce them to Jesus, who loves them so much that He laid down His life for them.
Romans 5:1-11 (NLT)
"Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God."
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