“But God demonstrates
his own love for us in this:
While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Stop and think about
what it would be like to be on your death bed and in excruciating pain just
minutes, or at best, hours away from death.
Yet, while you are
enduring pain unlike anything you have ever experienced, your thoughts are not
on that pain but on the care, concern and love for the others in the room.
If you can comprehend
what that must be like then you have the slightest sliver of coming remotely
close to understanding what it was like for Jesus on the cross. The weight of mankind’s
sin (not His own or the sin of one or two people but of all mankind in history)
was on Him.
He had been beaten,
whipped, mocked and crucified.
His ultimate hurt
being when the Father turned His back on the Son, no matter how momentary, not
looking on the sin His Son carried for you and for me.
Yet,
Jesus had compassion
on those who crucified Him.
He speaks words of
hope to the thief hanging on a cross next to Him.
He takes care of the
welfare of Mary his earthly mother.
None of this occurred
with any painkillers or anesthesia in His system.
Love compelled Him to
do what He did.
Love, too often, only
seems to ‘compel’ us in the easy and convenient moments of life.
Let another person ‘stress’
us or in some small way cause an offense and we
are ready to crucify
them (purposeful choice of words) rather
than extending care,
concern, compassion or love.
Do you know Him who
is that compelling love?
His name is Jesus.
He died for you.
Even in your anger
and indifference toward Him, He still loves you.
If you never have known that love, won’t
you surrender your heart to Him today?
You can never know the
depth of love God has for you until you receive Him!
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