He Died for Us
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Even though we were sinners and alienated from God, his perfect love found a way to redeem us. The Father and Son desire to spend eternity in Heaven with us, so much so, that God himself paid for our sins. One Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks back, I had a strong desire to go to my den and talk to the Lord. (I often go to my den to meditate on God and his Word.) The cross was the subject and I was given a deep understanding. I pictured in my mind all of Heaven looking down at Jesus dying on the cross. They seemed sad, yet they were glorifying, praising and singing to Jesus, as though Jesus could hear them. In this vision, the overwhelming feeling was love and God’s desire to place their love in our hearts. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)
During this meditation, I was given a better understanding of God and his Son and a clearer understanding of myself. I was given the realization that I can never be worthy of what Jesus did for me. I can never repay him, and I cannot have a relationship with him without his forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. Salvation is all in God’s grace. I bring nothing except my sinful self – pleading for mercy and forgiveness.
I was given a new meaning of humility as defined by God. Humility comes through deep understanding of the cross and how our salvation is totally dependent on the Father and the Son. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) Serving the Lord is bearing fruit, and this verse tells us that we are totally dependent on Christ. Salvation and reflecting Christ to the world makes us totally dependent on the Lord. When we know this in our minds and hearts, then God will see us as humble. I cannot fully surrender to the Lord until I am fully dependent on the Lord.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8) When God’s infinite love pierces our hearts, and if we are humble as defined by the Lord, we are changed, and our relationship to the Lord is now based on Truth as revealed by God.
Today, know the infinite love the Lord has for you and depend on him for every step of the day, because you are reflecting Christ. If we could perfectly surrender and truly be fully dependent on the Lord, we could live a perfectly fulfilling life with freedom in Christ. We can never reach perfection, but we can strive for it.
Prayer: Lord thank you for your perfect love as seen through Jesus going to the cross for my sins. Help me realize I bring nothing to my salvation but I am totally dependent on your love, mercy and grace. Help me give my life fully to you, because there is no life without you. In Jesus name, Amen