I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
The past 5 days I have been doing what I call "Fifty Days at the Cross." I have been reading one chapter each day from "Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die" by John Piper, as well as "Living the Cross Centered Life" by C.J. Mahaney. These readings have been such a blessing becoming more knowledgeable of why Christ died on the cross and also what that means for me now. This afternoon the reason was "To show His (Christ) own love for us" and the day before that was "To show the wealth of God's love and grace for sinners." All I could think was "Wow!" How often to I go throughout my day without pondering the love of God, thanking Him, praising Him, but no I question and wonder and doubt."
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
We all are familiar with this verse, we can easily quote it and same with the rest of America, but do we really know this verse? Cherishing it's truth and having it make out hearts jump for joy and explain "How great is our God!" I wanted to share with you a passage from C.J. Mahaney that convicted me so heavily I couldn't keep it from all of you.
"Who Killed Jesus?"
God did. God the Father was ultimately responsible for the death of His Son. God is telling us, "I purposefully determined to crush My Son with My Wrath-for your sins, as your substitute."
Why?
"Because I love you"
When you're tempted to doubt God's love for you, stand before the cross and look at the wounded, dying, disfigured Savior, and realize why He is there. I believe His Father would whisper to us, "Isn't that sufficient? I haven't spared My own Son; I deformed and disfigured and crushed Him- for you. What more could I do to persuade you that I love you?"
C.J. Mahaney "Living the Cross Centered Life"
My prayer is that I and you as well will each day live my life as cross centered, in conviction of God's amazing, endless, profound love. That we will not doubt but proclaim to all what He has done for us!
