Growing up

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:6-8

Did you know that some bibles have reading plans and suggestions in the front cover? I did not, but I was checking out a new bible and found a whole reading plan for Lent. Today’s passage included these verses and I read them without once getting upset, which is a major plus for me! You see, I used to get cranky over this passage, thinking that it was saying that people weren’t good and that the reason that God was so awesome was because people were so bad. I’ve always struggled with the idea that men don’t have any good in them but this verse in particular bugged me because it made it seem like if there were good people then Christ dying on the cross seems less like the amazing sacrifice it was. Who God is or what God does isn’t dependant on people and today is the first time I’ve read this verse and not thought that’s what it was saying. Maybe it’s because I’ve finally reconciled the conflict I had between sin nature and men doing good things; maybe it’s because I’ve grown and am able to read scripture with an open heart; or maybe it’s just because God has been working in me enough that I can understand what He’s saying to me through His word. And today I feel like this verse is God telling me that He loves me.