By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

God did What?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 New International Version

My granddaughter loves surprises!  She was delighted the other day at the playground when Grandma unexpectedly showed up at the bottom of the slide.  She was not expecting her Grandma to come down right where she was!

God loves to spring surprises on us, too.  The Greatest Surprise was that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Why is that such a surprise?  Let me give you a few reasons:

First of all, the very fact that God loves us is an enormous surprise!  Why should God love such a rebellious, sinful, entitled, blaming bunch of human beings?  His love is even more surprising because it is unconditional and He does not give us what we deserve, but what we don’t deserve!

Secondly, God sent His Son to die for us.  This is another enormous surprise.  I could see God sending some prophets and even angels, but His own Son?  To die for us?  Again, God is full of surprises!

Thirdly, God sent His Son to die for us while we were still sinners!  Yet another great surprise!  God did not wait for us to get our act together and get our lives cleaned up, but while we were yet dead in our trespasses and sins, Christ died for us.

I invite you to be surprised by God’s great love today, by His grace so surprisingly displayed in His Son.  Stop and say thank you for your Lord Jesus so unexpectedly showing up in your world to save you!

Thank you, Lord, that you are full of surprises.  Thank you for sending Jesus for me when I least expected Your help and visit.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado