While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
While driving late at night, Nicholas saw a house on fire. He parked in the driveway, rushed into the burning home, and led four children to safety. When the teenage babysitter realized one of the siblings was still inside, she told Nicholas. Without hesitation, he reentered the inferno. Trapped on the second floor with the six-year-old girl, Nicholas broke a window. He jumped to safety with the child in his arms, just as emergency teams arrived at the scene. Choosing concern for others over himself, he rescued all the children.
Nicholas demonstrated heroism by his willingness to sacrifice his safety for the sake of others. This powerful act of love reflects the kind of sacrificial love shown by another willing rescuer who gave His life to deliver us from sin and death—Jesus. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). The apostle Paul emphasized that Jesus—fully God in the flesh and fully man—chose to lay His life down and pay the price for our sins, a price we could never pay on our own. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (v. 8).
As we thank and trust Jesus, our willing Savior, He can empower us to love others sacrificially with our words and actions.
How do you feel when you consider the price Jesus willingly paid because He loves you? How can you put the needs of others before yourself this week?
Dear Jesus, help me trust in Your provision as I place others first today.
INSIGHT
What does Paul mean when he says, “at just the right time” (Romans 5:6)? Elsewhere, he writes, “When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Galatians 4:4-5). The timing of Jesus’ arrival on earth was perfectly fitted to God’s plan. This plan unfolded in ways we couldn’t have imagined, yet everything is just as He ordained it. That’s good news! Mark says in his gospel account, “It is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you’ ” (Mark 1:2). This messenger was John the Baptist, the prophesied forerunner to Jesus’ ministry (vv. 2-3; see Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1). His mission complete, John was imprisoned. Only then did Christ announce, “The time has come . . . . The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15).