Looking to Jesus

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Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 KJV

On those mornings when we feel disappointed or discouraged and start to complain we have a choice. We can look around at our gloomy situation or we can look to Jesus. Maybe we will choose best by remembering how Jesus chose and then humbly following Him with joyful hearts! I loved this song and video by Eric Kilgore. It reminds me that Jesus was thinking more of me than of His gloomy situation as He carried the cross and it also reminds me of the joy of Jesus Christ. I pray that you will also be blessed and encouraged this Sunday wherever you are. It is always good to remember again that He remembered you and me!

The Highway of Love

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These verses are God’s highway giving us both guardrails and a center line. The guard rails tell us all that love is not. They keep us from veering off to the left by wishing we had what others do. When we look there we lose sight of gratefulness for all God has given us. On the other side is a guard rail to keep us from boasting. Because it is so easy when we have been blessed, to want to tell others how special we are.

Instead we need to keep our eyes on the center line that tells us all love is. Love is patient and love is kind, stopping to help someone with a flat tire by the roadside and giving space to the person in front who is driving slowly. Love is joyful when others find their way back onto the highway. Love stays up all night to help the person at the wheel to stay awake. And at the end of the day those guard rails of God’s love keep us from crashing, but it is the center line that will lead us all the way home!

Why is There a Cross – On Top of the Steeple?

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And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32 KJV

Have you ever wondered why most churches have a cross at the top of their steeples, or that hundreds of millions of Christians wear crosses around their necks? It certainly isn’t stated anywhere in the Bible that we are supposed to do this – and yet we do.

In fact, when we think about the events of the gospel it might seem more appropriate to have an empty tomb on the roof showing the victory of Jesus over death or a throne showing that He is King of the universe. But there is something about the cross that attracts us to Jesus. But maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. Jesus told us that when He was lifted up that He would draw people to himself. Jesus healed lepers, multiplied bread, and walked on water but the lepers went home, the bread eaters stopped following and even Peter who had walked on water with Him, denied knowing Him. But on the cross things began to happen no could have imagined. At the cross, a thief believed and was promised paradise, and a Roman soldier cried out that He was the Son of God. Nicodemus came and boldly requested to give Jesus a proper burial and even His enemies remembered His claim of resurrection and asked for the tomb to be guarded and sealed. Repentance and faith, remembering His words and watching the tomb all began at the cross. The cross calls for us to take a stand and gives a place where we can see and believe that Jesus is God’s Son. So keep putting the cross where everyone can see because He has promised that when He is lifted up that He will draw all men to Him!