Sometimes, as Christians I think it’s easy for us to make Christ’s death so clean, so neat and tidy. We don’t want to think about what really happened that day. I know for me, I am squeamish… I would never make it as a doctor or a nurse. And I pray that the Lord never calls upon me to kill my enemy with a tent post.
But, this morning I was struck with the gruesome ordeal that our Creator endured for us. OH HOW HE LOVES US!!!
What a great love that would compel someone to endure such atrocities!!!! How little we think of it. Daily we disregard the sacrifice that He made, the beatings he endured, the pain, the agony, being separated from His Father, and enduring the vilest thing of all….sin. We disregard it in the way we live our lives, in our actions, our words, our thoughts. I wonder if we would have more zeal for the Lord if we had to actually witness the beatings, and ultimately His death. Would we be more vigilant against sin in our life? Would we be more concerned with the salvation of others, and less concerned with the things of this world?
So what should my response be?
If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2
Oh that my life would be a sweet smell to the Lord…