Cross

He Never Played it Safe

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It is much safer to be feared than to be loved” Machiavelli

I am so glad that our Lord Jesus never played it safe. For His delivery room He chose the manger not the palace. As a man He touched lepers and was friends with notorious sinners. At the end of His life He traveled to Jerusalem even though He knew that there He would be arrested and beaten. As He ate His final meal He shared bread and wine with Judas all the while knowing He would be betrayed. He chose not to call on angels or men to defend Him and accepted the shame and agony of the cross. Thank God that our courageous Savior didn’t play it safe with His life. This Christmas we should remember as we exchange small gifts that He gave dangerously so that we could remain forever safe in His arms.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. Luke 23:34 NKJV

What Does He See?

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What does God see when He looks at our heart? Does He see a cluttered heart, brimming with activities but with little time for Him?

Does He catch us off guard while we are manipulating our situation and those around us to reach our goals.

Will He notice a secret sin that we have hidden from every other eye but His. And all the while we have struggled to look good on the outside we are missing His offer to cleanse us on the inside by the blood of Jesus Christ.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7 NKJV

In the Shadow

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Often when I think of the shadow of the cross it brings to mind an image sorrow brooding like a storm on the horizon. But during worship on Sunday morning I saw that shadow as my place of protection. When the darkness of death covered the life of Jesus on the cross, its shadow covered me by His grace. In the moment that the punishment for my sins required the precious blood of the spotless Lamb of God my forgiveness and life were born in the shadow of my Savior’s cross.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 91:1 KJV