…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 ESV)
Monsters and Love
We usually notice the monsterliness of other people. THAT person was cruel. THAT person was selfish. THAT person was dastardly.
But our monster-hunting does not need to look at THAT person to find a monster. We are monsters. If monsters are those who are such terrible sinners that we deserve eternal death, then such are we. If monsters are those whose hearts are cold, self-centered, and greedy, then such are we. If monsters are those that rebel against the good God of the universe, then such are we. If monsters are such that we place ourselves in the center of our worlds, attempting to dethrone God, then such are we.
Yes, we who are God’s people are monsters.
And yet, God loves His people.
He did not wait until we slough off our monster skin to love us. He loves us, and then shows us how to have new skins.
He did not wait for us to become lovely to love us. He loves us, and then teaches us to love.
He did not wait for us to reject our monsterlike attributes. He loves us, and then shows us how to be like Him.
While we were yet monsters, even today, He died for us.
Take the love God grants us.