Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God. Ephesians 5: 2 CEV

As we consider the events which led to the crucifixion of Christ, we begin to realize the mighty LOVE God has for each one of us. We understand Jesus carried more than the weight of the cross as He walked to the hill where He would die.

Christ stumbled and fell as He carried the weight of our sin. He suffered by what He was chosen to bare and sweat blood in agonizing pain. As we consider the events that led to His death, we look to the cross and recognize Jesus understands the heart of suffering.  

In moments of conflict, we often feel God doesn’t hear our prayers. But our Mighty Healer knows what we carry. He invites us to consider how much we are loved and patiently waits for us to surrender to Him. He knows what we need to be strengthened by grace. He guides and provides for our days. 

As we are lifted with loving arms of PEACE, we begin to understand how it feels to be carried by the One who gave His life for us. “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 NIV 

Jesus died and rose again! Through death, burial, and resurrection, He paid the penalty for our sin and purchased eternal life for those who believe in Him. Salvation waits at the cross that was held by Jesus. None of us are deserving of mercy and grace. But we’re worthy of salvation if we choose to accept it and allow ourselves to be forever cradled in the arms of His strength. 

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you! As we reflect on the One who took our sin, fill us with desire to meet you at the cross. Humble our hearts to recognize what it means to be held by Your holiness.  Help us recognize why we need Jesus! Let LOVE be our guide as we gratefully remember why Jesus didn’t stay in the tomb! He is our living Savior and we love Him so much. Thank you, Lord. Thank you!