The cross — where heaven meets earth.
John 3:16 (NIV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus left heaven to die on earth so that earthly beings can live in heaven.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You for the cross. Thank You for stepping out of heaven and dying so that I can step into heaven and live … forever and ever, time without end, amen.
The cross is all about love.
John 3:16 (NIV)
For God so loved the world …
John 13:34
… Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
God loves. I love.
Good morning, Lord. I cannot love others as much as You love me … but I can try. Teach me to see (and love) Your image stamped on every person I meet. Grant me power to look beyond the moment and envision them with You in eternity. Even (especially) when they rub me wrong, put a prayer in my heart and kind words in my mouth.
Matthew 6:12 (NLV)
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Picture the cross:
Forgive us our sins is the upright beam,
representing our relationship with God.
As we forgive is the crossbeam,
representing our relationship with others.
Good morning, Lord. May I be as quick to forgive others as You are to forgive me.
These parallel thoughts meet at the cross:
Guilt: I have done something bad, committed an offence.
Shame: I am a bad person, unworthy and unlovable.
Mercy: God is not giving me the punishment I deserve.
Grace: God is giving me blessings I don’t deserve.
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
For the joy set before him [Jesus] he endured the cross, scorning its shame.
Let go of guilt, scorn the shame.
Be grateful for mercy, embrace grace.
Good morning, Lord. That messy and painful cross is the source of mercy and grace. Once again, O God, You take what is ugly and turn it to beauty, what is unlovable in me and transform it into a reflection of You. There is nothing on earth to compare with the power of Your holy love. I stand in awe of You, I praise and thank You.
John 3:17 (EASY)
God did not send his Son into the world because he wanted to punish people. He sent his Son to save the people in the world from punishment.
Calvary’s cross — the intersection of sin and salvation. We bring the sin, Christ brings the salvation.
Good morning, Lord. My sins nailed You to the cross, Your death opened the door to my salvation. You didn’t deserve death, I don’t deserve eternal life. Your plan for the world — bigger and better than I can ask or think! “Thank You” isn’t enough.
This is the reason for this Lenten season:
Matthew 20:17-19 (NIV)
Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
Good morning, Lord. I look forward to Easter, the celebration of Your resurrection. But without the crucifixion there would have been no resurrection. Sometimes my mind skips right over the betrayal, mockery, pain and suffering You experienced — for our sakes. Teach me to count the cost of my salvation. Fill me with gratitude.
Luke 19: 41-42 (NIV)
As he [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
Jesus wept. It’s OK to cry.
Some things are just so sad.
Good morning, Lord. Let’s be honest … I get frustrated with the chaos, I don’t like it when things don’t go my way. My thoughts hover over my own self, how it impacts me. Forgive my self-centeredness. Give me eyes to see what is happening to others and a heart that shares their pain. Teach me to seek their wellbeing — in prayer and deed — as much as my own.
Luke 19:37-38 (NIV)
When he [Jesus] came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Did the crowd of disciples understand where Jesus was headed?
Probably not.
Do we have to understand what lies ahead before we joyfully praise God?
I don’t think so.
Good morning, Lord. As I look back on my life journey, I’m grateful I didn’t know about all the speedbumps and dangerous curves before I started. And yet, I keep wishing for complete knowledge of the road ahead. Teach me to step out joyfully, trusting Your plan and not my own wisdom. As the song says, “We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord.”
Jesus told His disciples He was going to Jerusalem to die.
Matthew 16:22-23 (NIV)
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Would I have been like Peter, a stumbling block to God’s plan? Probably.
Good morning, Lord. You know my tendency to look for the easiest way, the path of least resistance. I’m grateful You walked the hard road to the cross. Empower me to step out in obedience, even when the path looks scary. Stop me short, O God, whenever I start to be a stumbling block on someone else’s road to faith. Teach me to walk in Your way.
