Posts Tagged ‘ Cross ’

VerseD: Luke 9:23-24

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Luke 9:23‭-‬24, ESV

Christ came to save us by taking the cross we deserved, but He asks us to take up our own cross – live like Jesus by sacrificing our wants, desires, comforts, freedoms, and even our lives in radical love for others to show them the love of God.

VerseD: Hebrews 12:2

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2, ESV

Our God showed us that a cursed person was hung on a tree, facing ultimate shame. Yet He came to us, knowing He would take our shame, and knowing He would see us in Eternity.

VerseD: Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Matthew 16:24, ESV

We try to live our own life, but Christ calls us to live for and like Him. He can sovereignly control us, yet He guides us by His Holy Spirit when we trust in Him.

Advent 2022 – Day 24: John 3:13-15

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

John 3:13-15, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, teaching the truths of God and proving them with miracles, signs, and wonders.

Even the religious elite could see it, but they could not understand without help.

And Jesus was that help to Nicodemus and others willing to listen, but we tend to be an obstinate lot.

Yet, God came to us, showing us how we are to be saved.

What does Jesus tell us about salvation?

He tells us that only Jesus has made the trip from heaven and back, that only those who believe in Him can ascend.

He tells us we must believe He is the only source of salvation, and it is in His death on the cross we find forgiveness and are saved.

God came to us as a man to save us by taking our punishment on Himself, and we must believe this to be saved.

Maybe people who lived in Old Testament times did not understand this in detail, but they knew where salvation was found: in God alone.

Christ has come and given us the Holy Spirit who leads us to Christ’s cross and forgiveness of sins and hope for eternal life.

May we seek the Lord who has saved us and shown us the path to eternal life.

Advent 2022 – Day 19: Matthew 2:16

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

Matthew 2:16, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came, and the first powerful person to hear about him reacted … violently

Have things really changed?

We still react to God in violent and nasty ways, usually against each other. When we get upset, we attack God by attacking His image found in each of us.

We demean each other, mock and ridicule and belittle each other. We kill and mutilate ourselves and each other, our children, our elderly and infirm.

All of this is our attempt to push away and destroy God from in our lives.

And we all do it.

Yet, God came to us, knowing His own creatures would hurt each other and ultimately kill Him on a cross, but to redeem us through our own violence.

Herod wanted to destroy Christ, but he was only fulfilling prophecy.

Christ came to save us, and it meant living in this fallen world with all of its dangers and temptations.

But He did not give in, and turned our anger and violence into the tools to save us.

Let us respect the image of God in each other, turning to the One who took on our image to redeem us.

May we seek the Lord who works in the midst of our sin to redeem us from sin.

VerseD: Colossians 1:13

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son

Colossians 1:13, ESV

When our faith is in the work Christ has done on the cross for our sins, we know we know longer live in sin but have hope for eternal glory with Him.

VerseD: Lamentations 3:22‭-‬23

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22‭-‬23, ESV

Our God loves us, as proven by His haven’t destroyed us all yet and by keeping His promises, especially through the cross of Christ.

VerseD: Philippians 2:7-8

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:7‭-‬8, ESV

Our God came to us, denying His privileges and hiding His glory, as a man, to show us the way, make us clean, and prepare a way until He returns or calls us home.

VerseD: Luke 9:23-24

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Luke 9:23‭-‬24, ESV

We willing give up our sin, which means giving it to Christ who took it all on the cross. It is the only true sacrifice we ha e to make.

To hold on is to give up eternal life.

VerseD: 1 Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6‭-‬7 ESV

When we realize our need for help, we can turn to the One who has shown His love and faithfulness through the cross.

Trust His promises. Trust God.