ROMANS 5:8

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

I can remember going to county fairs or other festivals and watching artisans demonstrate their craft. Some were making candles. Others were doing woodworking. My favorite is watching people cook. It could be fudge or taffy, kettle corn or funnel cakes. Every one of those people were demonstrating their skills which had been honed over many hours.

God also demonstrated something to us, but it wasn’t at a county fair or festival. Long ago on Mt. Calvary, He demonstrated His love for us by delivering up His only Son to die for us so that we might be justified and live with Him forever. All we have to do is accept the gift. The Greek word translated “demonstrates” is sunistémi or sunistanó. I love what the Topical Lexicon says about this word. “God’s attributes are not abstractions; they are verified in history and in the gospel. Because the verb is perfect tense in both verses (Romans 3:5, 5:8), the proof stands completed and enduring—unchangeable evidence for every generation.” God’s demonstration of His love is enduring!

APPLICATION

This Greek word takes another meaning in Colossians 1:17. “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” But even in this usage, we see God’s enduring character. He has always held everything together. God isn’t juggling the universe hoping everything will fall into place. NO! He has placed everything in its proper place and holds it together. No matter what science may try to say to you, we know the true Creator.

There is another way sunistanó is used in Scripture. It is used to prove ourselves in our ministry. In 2 Corinthians 4:2 we read, “but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God.” “Commending” is our word there. We have to demonstrate to the world by our actions and behaviors that we are one with Christ.

What are you demonstrating today? Does your lifestyle demonstrate one who is following Jesus? Do your words reflect the Lord? Just as God demonstrated His faithfulness to us, we too need to demonstrate our faithfulness to Him. We should look different, sound different and act different than the world. Put on your own demonstration today.

Lord God, help me demonstrate Your love to a lost and dying world around me.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis).