The Beauty of the Cross

Daily Reading: Matthew 10

Scripture Focus: Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. (Matthew 10.26)

Devotional Thought: Have any of you ever been told to imagine Jesus sitting right next to you when you were faced with temptation?  I know I was. In fact, as a teenager I heard quite often that when I was with my friends, I needed to remember that Jesus was right there with me, too.

Second Corinthians 5.21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” God, in his wisdom, caused Jesus to become my sin on the cross so that my sin could be crucified.  So, for me the issue was not that Jesus was watching me, but rather Jesus was "becoming" what I was doing. 

When faced with those decisions that you make behind closed doors, don’t ask yourself, “Would I do this if Jesus were here?” Rather, ask yourself, “What sin am I willing to place on Jesus’ shoulders?”  The beauty of the cross still rests in the fact that there is no end to God’s abundant grace.  But, should you carelessly and selfishly sin, putting that ugly mess on Jesus?  In the words of the Apostle Paul: "God forbid!"

There is even more beauty in this scripture: What we do in secret and what has been concealed from those around us, has not been concealed from Christ. And, even though he can see behind the doors of your heart, he still loves you. The shame and regret you feel for those “behind the door” decisions can be replaced with grace and mercy. There is nothing that you have done in secret that Christ has not already taken care of on the cross.  Will you accept his forgiveness and grace?

Kenny McQuitty

Prayer: Lord, as I think about your love - how you were willing to become my sin so that I could become the righteousness of God - I am overwhelmed.  "Thank you for the cross, my Friend!"  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 83.9-18

9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,

10 who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.

11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

12 who said, "Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God."

13 O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.

14 As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,

15 so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane!

16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O LORD.

17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace,

18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.