the cross of Christ

1 Peter 2:24 NLT

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

Can you imagine being there on that day? You may be a follower of Jesus or have just heard about Him. There was something different about Jesus. He loved people and spoke truth to each person He encounter. The same is true today.

The verses above reminds us of the purpose of the cross. If you were watching the happenings on that first good Friday, you would have first hand experience that our sin was placed on Jesus, and Jesus gave healing by His wounds.

1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

That’s foolish. Maybe like others have said that the death of Jesus was useless. Again, imagine you are looking on and you knew this man. What could Jesus have done to deserve this? Even His mother was watching on.

The cross offers something of a watershed. You are either on one side or the other. You are either saved or love. Either you understand that it was love that sent Jesus to the cross or that it was meaningless.

Much meaning, much love, much power flowed from that cross on that Friday.

Colossians 2:15 NLT

In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Victory comes from death. Life comes from the cross. Jesus gives us victory when we die to ourselves and allow Jesus to take care of our shortcomings. Jesus literally disarmed the enemies so that we can have eternal victory.

Romans 6:23 NLT

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

That is it. The cross displayed His love and gave an open past for our eternal life. We deserve death for our sin. But Jesus gives life. Not based on our actions or merits. Life is based on the finished act of Jesus.

Praise God for the cross of Easter! Pray that others join us in this celebration and share you story.

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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