While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
Romans 5:8b
As is likely the case with most adult siblings, my brother, sister, and I look back at our childhood antics with smiles, laughs, and admittedly, a few winces. One such wince-inducing memory is when my brother and I regularly propped up a threshold gate to separate ourselves from our little sister. She would sit on one side of the gate and peer through the slats, watching us create make-believe lands where GI Joe and Barbie fought together against Skeletor to claim the planet, Thundera. We believed we were including her by allowing her to watch from afar and by inviting her to bring us a snack now and then.
Do we, as Christians, ever approach the season of Lent in this fashion? Do we sit comfortably on the “inside,” focused on our forgiven state, while we allow those on the “outside” to stand and peer through the slats at the peace and joy that is ours?
It took our loving and wise grandpa to bring us together as sibling playmates. He insisted that the gate come down and we all play together as equals. Our loving and wise Savior came to take down the gate of sin and reminds us that not one of us is able to do so on our own. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We are all equally helpless to deal with the heavy gate of sin, but we are also equally loved by a Savior who has knocked the gate down. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8b).
As we approach Easter this year, the word of God turns our attention to that which brings us together. Are there any brothers or sisters who think they are participating in all that Easter means while they settle for peering through the slats? God’s grace and Spirit inspire us to humbly share about our wise and loving Savior who has removed the gate of sin and invites all to enter into true Easter peace and joy!
Lori Doyle '97, M.A.Ed. '06
Assistant Professor of Education
Program Coordinator for MAED: Curriculum & Instruction