THE CROSS

There is a Southern Gospel song currently being sung by Eighth Day, “May I Never Get Over The Cross” that sends out a very powerful message

MAY I NEVER GET OVER THE CROSS

I see it on the steeple every time I pass a church.
It hangs there on the necklace I wear every day to work.
Is it a little too familiar? Has it become an empty symbol
I don't think about, ‘cause it's always around?

May I never get over the cross.
Lord, burn into my memory everything it cost.
Let me see you on that tree, dying for the lost.
Now and forever, may I never get over the cross

Can we really sing His praises or talk about His love
If we forget to mention the suffering and the blood?
Or how He was separated for the first time from His Father
There on Calvary? Oh, what agony!

May I never get over the cross.
Lord, burn into my memory everything it cost.
Let me see you on that tree, dying for the lost.
Now and forever, may I never get over the cross

So often when things get familiar they become ordinary and lose their significance.  We must be so very careful that the Bible and its message do not become so familiar to us as Christians that it is no longer precious and relevant.

As the song says, we see crosses everywhere, even wear them as symbols of our faith, but have we forgotten what the cross really was?  It wasn’t a golden cross. It wasn’t a decorated ornament. It wasn’t made of smooth wood.  It was the most cruel form of punishment used in Jesus’ day.

Crucifixion is a form of slow and painful execution in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead.  Crucifixion was usually intended to provide a death that was particularly slow, painful, gruesome, humiliating, and public, using whatever means were most expedient for that goal.   (Wikipedia)

We must never forget the price that the Sinless One paid for “our” sins.  God did something to Jesus that He never does to us, He turned His back on Him.    Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me”.  He could not look at Jesus bearing all the sin of the world and turned His back.

As the song says, we must never “get over” the fact that Jesus died a cruel death for OUR sins.  His shed blood on that rugged cross is what buys our salvation.  How I thank Him for that sacrifice He endured for me so that I may be with Him for eternity.

My card for the week tells the story:

Have a good week.

Our Saviour Cares

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.   Hebrews 4:15-16

Our Saviour had feelings.  The idols many worship today cannot hear.  They cannot see.  They cannot feel.  Yet our Lord had feelings.

Our Lord had compassion on the sick and hurting (Matthew 20:34; Matthew 14:14; 

Mark 1:41). 

He had compassion on the lost (Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34).  He had compassion on the hungry and weary (Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:2). 

He also grieved because of the ones who had hard hearts and rejected His offer of mercy  (Mark 3:5). 

He loved and forgave those who hurt Him (Luke 23:34)

We, as Christians, need to live a Christ-like life.  We need to pray daily and ask God to give us the feelings of Jesus Christ. When we have His feelings, we will see the world differently and we will live a life trying to be a blessing to others.

J – Jesus

O – Others

Y – Yourself

When we put Jesus first, others second and ourselves last, we will have a life of joy.

My card for this week:

 Have a wonderful week!

I WANT TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS

Is that also your heart desire?

Don't be the reason why people fail, and do not rejoice in their failure, rather be a source of light and encouragement to them.  If you are strong, strengthen the weak. This is our mission and that is the mission of Christ.

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Romans 15:1 

I ask the Lord to lead me to others who I can help and inspire. I want to be a blessing to others so they can grow in spirit and in truth.  I want them to have hope.  I believe that God can give hope to those who trust and follow Him regardless of what they are going through.  Tests and trials come to everyone, but…

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  1 Corinthians 10:13 

Trials are not the end of life, but a time during which we can learn to lean harder on our loving Lord.

The idea for this post came from O. C. Peters on Facebook.  Thanks for letting me share your thoughts.

Let's show God's love to others this week.

10 LITTLE CHRISTIANS

10 Little Christians standing in line
1 disliked the preacher, then there were 9

9 little Christians stayed up very late
1 overslept Sunday, then there were 8

8 little Christians on their way to Heaven
1 took the low road and then there were 7

7 little Christians chirping like chicks 

1 disliked music, then there were 6

6 little Christians seemed very much alive 

but one lost his interest then there was 5

5 little Christians pulling for Heaven's Shore
but one stopped to rest, then there were 4

4 little Christians each busy as a bee
but one got his feelings hurt, then there were 3

3 little Christians knew not what to do
1 joined the sporty crowd, then there were 2

2 little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done
differed with each other, then there was 1

1 little Christian can't do much 'tis true;
but brought his friend to Bible study -- then there were 2

2 earnest Christians, each won one more
that doubled the number, then there were 4

4 sincere Christians worked early and late
Each won another then there were 8

8 splendid Christians if they doubled as before
In just so many Sundays, we'd have 1,024

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,
You belong, either to the building-, or to the wrecking-crew!

-- Author Unknown

Interesting thoughts for us to think on today.