By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

More Than Good Intentions

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“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

A pile of lumber is nothing more than good intentions … until the real work begins.  This pile of lumber was purchased so that it might become a building, but something more than good intentions and pious thoughts are needed.  If a building is to be erected, if a plan is to become reality, hard work and sweat equity need to be invested.

What if God had only felt bad for us as sinners, if He had only expressed concern and sent us a nice letter saying that He was thinking about us, but had done nothing to actually save us?  If He had done no more, we would still be lost in our sin.  “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

That verse says it all.  When God loves, He doesn’t just express His emotions, He goes into action.  And that action took the most drastic turn of all history…  God sent His Son to die for us.  The Son of God took on flesh and blood and bore the suffering and punishment of the sin of the world so that we might be saved.

Jesus was nailed to the rough, hard wood of the cross.  He poured out His own blood for us.  He cried out and felt pain and forsakenness and humiliation.  He did this because our God doesn’t just talk about love, He is love and He loves.  In the most undeniable way, He loved us to the bitter end.

You and I might be full of big talk and no real work, but not our Lord.  While we were still sinners, He died for us.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado