Come to the Cross…All are welcome…No matter what has happened or where you have been, Come lay down all your burdens and be healed. As it says in today’s song, “earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal.” Amen.
“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:12-13
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in northern Colorado)
He sacrificed Himself on the Cross to save us and reconcile us with God.
The Cross Has The Final Word by Newsboys
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19:30
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)
We have so many thoughts and ideas about ‘how things should go’ or ‘ the way things should be done’…we put our own expectations on situations and interactions and how many times have we heard or thought, ‘well that is not how I thought that would go’ or ‘wow that was unexpected.’ Yet we still struggle to learn that we are not in control of anything other than our own actions, reactions, attitude and behaviors. Take your worries, your burdens, your fears and your frustrations to the Cross…lay them down at the feet of Jesus and surrender your life to God’s will. Amen.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at Clark Tower in Winterset City Park in Iowa)
Sacrifice…Savior…Salvation. God has shown us just how much He loves you, cares for you and values you. He sacrificed His Son, our Savior for our Salvation. Thanks be to God for His everlasting love. Amen.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
(Photo credit: Stockphoto)
An offering…to give up something of value to serve a greater cause or to help others. During this Holy Week we recount the events that led to the greatest sacrifice in human history. Jesus Christ suffering and sacrificing Himself to death on a cross in order to save us from our sins. And just when we may wonder ‘what more could He do’…He spoke these words while hanging on the cross, “…Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34 Whenever I reflect on these events, I typically end up asking myself the same question in my mind…’what have I done for Him, after He has done so much for me?’
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45
(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
We have been saved…we have a fortress of salvation…we have been delivered by Jesus Christ to eternal life. Trust in the Lord, there is no greater strength than the love of God. When we fall down He will pick us up, He renews us and restores us. His Word is a shelter from evil. When it feels like the world is crashing down around you look to the Lord for He is our Rock. Amen.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalm 18:2
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)
A sacrifice…an offering of redemption…grace…mercy…humility…love…Savior. There is nothing or no one in our lives as compassionate as Jesus Christ. He lived a life on earth just like everybody else…only He suffered more than anyone else and He did it knowing it was going to happen the whole time. He offered Himself up to take the punishment we all deserve and He did it to save you and to save me. Give thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)
The decision we make to follow Christ is ours to make…for free. We have free will, a gift from God. Now what? We need to spend time learning about Jesus, His life and His message and how we can contribute. We need to spend time reading God’s Word, we need to spend time in worship listening and we need to pray. All of these things we help us grow stronger on the inside…on the inside, where selfishness and a desire to serve ourselves first has set-up base camp. Here is where the battle gets difficult…in order to follow Christ we must be willing to make deciesions to deny the desires of self. We must reject the negative thoughts and judgements in our minds, put to rest the anger and the selfish beliefs. This is not an easy thing to do and don’t let anyone tell you it is, this is a battle and a struggle every day. If you don’t believe it, look around the world…what do you see? The decision to follow Jesus Christ is just the beginning…the cost to see it through is the rejection of sin and the sinful nature that the world promotes. May God grant us wisdom, courage and strength to go with us each day. Amen.
“Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23
(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
It is said the tighter we try to grab on to the things of this world the more they slip through our fingers. If I just do this or if we can just get to this point then everything will work out as we plan…as if it is all up to us and we are in control. Then as we get older and begin to realize it is not up to us alone, there is the danger of going too far the opposite way…it doesn’t matter what I do, nobody cares anyways or I could just disappear and no one would notice. Both directions of belief are extreme, as humans we tend to go too far one way or the other and we tend to get too high or too low…imagine a horizontal line of your beliefs intersecting with a vertical line of your emotions and you get…The Cross. To find balance come to The Cross and hold on to Jesus. Amen.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
I offer to you today some praise and worship through music. Think about the things that keep you distracted, struggling and full of worry…bring those things to the only place where you can find healing and peace. The Cross.
The Cross Has The Final Word by The Newsboys
The Cross Has the Final Word lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Romans 8:37
(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
Take Your Faith With You 