Everything

Tonight, someone told a story about how when they went to church, they heard someone say:

“Imagine that during all the hours Jesus was being beaten, flogged, ridiculed and tortured, that your face came across His mind, and knowing every sin you will ever make, He decided to say, YES. I will still go through this and take this for you.”

Following are some of the words that describe the nature of Jesus’ sacrifices and suffering:

• betrayed

• condemn … to death

• deliver

• mock

• scourge (to whip severely)

• crucify

• give his life a ransom

• blood…shed for many

• all you shall be offended (tempted to turn away from me)

• smite the shepherd

• sheep of the flock …scattered abroad

• bitter experience

• prayed might pass from him

• submission to divine decree

• suffer violence

• drain to the dregs his cup of sorrow

• He must leave them

• began to be sorrowful and very heavy

• “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death”

• “Watch with me”

• fell on his face,

• “Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me”

• “What, could you not watch with me one hour?”

• “The hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

• Patient woe

• sorrowful and silent

• persecuted

• sought counsel to put him to death

• stripped him

• crown of thorns

• mocked him

• spit upon him

• smote him

• crucified him

• it behoved Christ to suffer

• cup of bitterness

• Human law had condemned him

• sufferings of Jesus

I’m sure you’ll agree that’s a very long list!!

Tears instantly filled my eyes. To be so valued, to be so loved. When we experience hardship and mistreatment, it can erode at your self-worth and value. Yet, God saw so much value in us when we were created. I know with the burdens and busyness of life, I can forget the pure act of love that was. I think sometimes I have a hard time accepting that God does value me enough for that sacrifice, especially when others can make us feel so unloved.

After reflecting on that concept on my drive home, a memory of a video I watched in high school hit my mind. This song will forever wreck me and bring up so much emotion when I watch it.

(Probably even more so now, than when I was in high school because I have experienced more life, and the profound relief of when God steps in and takes care of us hits me harder now more than ever.)

What does the Lord your God require of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?

Deuteronomy 10:12-13

When we hear it all spelled out we’re like, okay, actually that sounds like quite a lot. So, yes, quite a lot is required of God’s children. But what He gives to us…..oh, it is so much more than what He requires.

Should we really expect Him to give freely to us without asking anything in return? Does He say, “I love you. You are Mine. Now go on about your life and I will protect and bless you.” No. That’s just not how it works. Yet many people today, hear about God and His saving grace, they recognize their sin and need for a Savior, they go to church and are baptized, then they go on with their lives and expect God to love, protect, and bless them. But that is not the end of our call. God is pleased that we have realized our sin and accepted the sacrifice of Jesus, but now something is required of us. We have to accept Him as Savior and LORD…not just Savior.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

If we believe God to be our Creator, then we must understand that He has a certain authority over us. The one that creates will always be over the one that’s created. When we belong to someone, they have a say in our lives. As children, we belong to our parents; and as adults, we belong to our employers and they both have a say in parts of our life. So, when we come to the realization that He is the Lord (the boss) to whom all heaven and earth belong, we understand how He has the right to ask so much of us.

Who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Romans 9:20-21

Once we realize He is our Creator, then we understand His authority. Then, when we see His power, we fear enough to obey.

You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them. But the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice. The statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall be careful to observe forever. You shall not fear other gods. But the Lord your God you shall fear and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.

2 Kings 17:35-39

After we feel His love towards us and see Him provide just for us, then it is easy to understand why we fall in love with Him in return. We weren’t ever promised an easy life. But I can reflect and think about sooo many ways that God has provided in my life, and protected me.

We love Him because He first loved us.

1 John 4:19

When we take into consideration how much we have been given, in a totally undeserving state I might add; following Him no longer feels like an obligation, but a strong desire to return the love He has for us back to Him.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments and they are not burdensome. As we spend time with Him and experience His greatness, impartiality, and justice, we begin to act with justice and impartiality towards each other, as He also commanded.

It is possible (NOT EASY) to walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. When we see His kindness towards those who have no father or husband, to those who feel out of place or without a home to call their own, we can have compassion on them, loving and helping them just as He does.

When we show love to one another (even to those who have wronged us and are so undeserving), God abides in us and His love is perfected in us. By choosing to act and have our behavior be in response of Christ’s love, our love for God will grow and our service will be the natural overflow of it.