Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

     It always heart wrenching for us to read stories about a person who risks and even gives his life for another. You hear of men who drown to rescue kids who were about to befall the same fate. He did not even know them, yet he dies for them. We find it honorable (and rightly so) when a Secret Service agent falls in front of the bullet for the President. A soldier dives on a grenade to save the other men in his company. All of these examples are inspiring to us, and they show great sacrfice, devotion and love to the ones that they save.

     The fact that Christ was willing to die for us is worthy of the same respect. More so in fact. Let’s say hypothetically that Osama bin Laden were found today and his execution was tomorrow. How shocked would you be if a family member of one of the victims from the twin towers came forward to make an announcement that day that said they would like to take the place of bin Laden, and will suffer the execution in his stead? It would be amazing that they could find it in their heart not only to forgive him, but to take his place and let him off the hook.

     Such an action could only be born from great love. Probably a greater love than many of us have within ourselves. Yet that is the great love that God summoned when He sent Christ to this earth. You see Jesus did not die for people He owed or who had showed Him the same love. Instead He was dying for people who had sinned against Him and became His enemies. In fact He was dying for the same people who crucified Him as well as those who were mocking Him as He was crucified. And He died for us. He showed us amazing love. What do we show Him in return?

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.