We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and God has told us that the wages (cost) of this sin is death. Yet, God does not want us to die, He has great love for us. In fact, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This is how God shows His love for us!
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23)
It is amazing to me that God loves us this much! God owns everything, “…the world and it’s fullness are mine.” (Psalm 50:12b) He owns all things and has an abundance of created things with which He can do with what He pleases; and yet, He chose to sacrifice the one thing that He did not have in abundance. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) He gave His “only” Son. God’s love is sacrificial. God did not give out of His abundance to forgive our sins, instead He gave Himself!
Do you know that you are loved by God? 1 John 4:8-10, 1 Peter 2:24, Hebrews 12:2-3, Philippians 2:8, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Hebrews 2:9, Psalm 30:12
The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins! He himself bore our sins, in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed!” Look to Jesus beloved, He is the founder and perfecter of our faith, and 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. Consider Him, love Him and look to Him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death– even death on a cross! God’s Word tells us that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God! Are you asking for His power in your life or are you trying to do things in your own power?
But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Written by Jamie Shaver