BUT GOD

BUT GOD

READ:
Romans 5:8-11

But God demonstrates His
own love toward us, in that
while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8

Howard Sugden, my pastor when I was in college, preached many memorable sermons.  After all these years, the one titled "But God..." still makes me stop whenever I come to those words in the Bible.  Here are a few examples of verses that encourage me with the reminder of God's righteous intervention in human affairs:

"You mean evil against me:  but God meant it for good, in order to...save many people alive" (Genesis 50:20).

"Their beauty shall be consumed in the grave....But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave" (Psalm 49:14-15).

"My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26).

"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8).

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard...the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.  But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

Whenever you feel discouraged, look up some "but God" verses and be reassured of God's involvement in the lives of those who love Him. -Julie Ackerman Link

Creator of the universe
Who reigns in awesome majesty:
How can it be that You're involved
With such a one as me? -Sper
******************************
God's involvement in our lives
should reassure us of His love.

INSIGHT
If there is a key word in this text, it may be the word reconciled.  This word, or the related word reconciliation, appears three times in verses 10-11 and connotes the effect of Christ's redemptive work.  Sin made us God's enemies (v.10), and the only remedy is being made right with God.  This could happen only through Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  He took the punishment our sins deserve so that we could be restored to a right relationship with God.

Have a blessed day.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace