Good Morning Ladies, here we are on another beautiful day. The sun is shining earlier and earlier each day, confirming spring is in the air as new buds are forming on our trees.
We have thought a lot of this verse on our journey, over the last few years. People speak a lot of riches and prosperity as Christians and how we are to prosper in all things. We forget about the verses that speak of the cross we will carry when we choose to follow Jesus.
22“The Son of Man must suffer many things,” He said. “He must be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” 23 Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.…
– Luke 9:22-24
In those days the Jews were very familiar with the cross and the brutality it carried, none was aware that the Messiah, the coming King was to live the same fate and die the same brutality.
Jesus does not want us to suffer the same fate, He took the nails that we may see freedom, unfortunately living a life that is pure and holy comes with the pain of letting go, and the joy of holding on.
Come, and see the victories of the cross. Christ’s wounds are thy healings, His agonies thy repose, His conflicts thy conquests, His groans thy songs, His pains thine ease, His shame thy glory, His death thy life, His sufferings thy salvation.
– Matthew Henry
Choosing Jesus every time is only possible because He chose us first, He first took up the cross of calvary, the cross that cost God everything. He chose it for you and me, He walked ahead, and the cross upon His shoulders dug the ditch that would bring our freedom.
Dear Lord, thank You for choosing the cross and giving us life eternal. You showed all of us how to get to you, how can I ever repay the love You have given me? Show me how to love You more, Amen.
