the cross.

today we are celebrating Good Friday. and although it is a day of deep sorrow and deep pain, it gives us an even deeper reason for gratitude. today we remember that Jesus died. today we remember his voluntary walk to the cross. today we remember he went to the cross out of love. today we remember that He had a greater vision, a greater joy in store. today we remember that because of Him we are accepted as we are. 

Do we treasure the cross enough? Do we look at it in wonder? Is our response to it incessant praise? I think at times we think we don't need the cross. We are just fine going through day by day. Even if we are Christians a need for the cross is not a place we live out of. We acknowledge it, may occasionally thank God for it, but it is an active place of remembrance, an active participation of enjoying the Father's love, the Son's sacrifice? I pray that our hearts can be filled with gratitude that springs from rivers of mercy that flow out of our gracious God. The cross humbles us. it allows us to know that nothing else can bring true reconciliation or forgiveness. nothing else brings the ultimate peace that we long for. through the cross we have an inheritance we cannot fathom and riches that cannot be weighed or measured. do we understand that because He suffered, He took away eternal suffering that we have barely tasted? and that it was because of the joy set before Him that he did this? that is the reason He took the cross and bore its shame? to be reconciled to us and to be in relationship with us? to save us? (Hebrews 12:2)

The cross is the place where unique wonder meets divine gratitude. 

The place where ultimate humility meets undefeated strength. 

The place where our sinless Savior bore the weight we could not bear. 

The place where the disgrace of suffering meets the beautiful outworking of redemption. 

The place where the place of wanting meets the guarantee of eternal security and satisfaction.
The place where the mess of our betrayal meets His pure and full forgiveness.

The place where the desire for truth and freedom meet a Person.

The place of Life everlasting. 

let's live out of that place. 

remembering His suffering and rejoicing in His life. 

remembering humility yet boasting in His strength.

remembering weakness yet claiming ultimate victory. 

remembering we are sinners yet we are washed completely clean.

remembering that it takes God to love God. 

remembering that because of Him, we can say yes to Him, know Him, desire Him. 

this is the power of the Cross.