Why The Cross?

Today, before I went to my reading class, me and my sister read from an devotional called my "Utmost For His Highest". Today's devotional was about God's amazing forgiveness and love for us. Have you ever wondered what He would do if Jesus didn't have to die on the cross? Have you wondered what would of happened? these were the thoughts that ran through my mind while I was listening to my sister read from the devotional.

I find it mysterious--sometimes I can't even comprehend why, why Jesus, the son of the creator of the universe, had to die an horrible death that he did not deserve? The Bible says in Galatians 3:13-"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'" You see, we are the ones that are cursed, not God; He is without sin, he is perfect. In Galatians 3:10, it says-"Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." But God loved us so much that He chose to send His son to die for us, Jesus loved us so much that he chose to take our place. God knew that if he didn't send His only son to die for us, we would be separated from him forever...in hell.

Hell was not meant for us, it was meant for the devil and his fallen angels.When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, the whole world became corrupt. But, God wanted us back; He loved us so much, that He wanted so bad, for us to repent and to confess our sins and be forgiven. I also learned in today's devotional that, it is not enough to just say sorry. God knows us better than that, remember he created us in his own image...Don't you think God cares that we disobey Him? The Bible says in Joel 2:13-"Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity."

He wants us to come to Him broken hearted, torn for what we have done. That's the beauty of grace! When you come and confess your sins and rend, God will heal you--you will be forgiven. You see if we just sorry, it wouldn't mean anything, because God know our hearts and our minds, he knows that we'll sin again. He wants an repented heart...a torn repented heart.

God knows we're not perfect, that we would keep sinning, but He will make away out of temptation. In Hebrews 2:18 it says that-"Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted." This is another thing that is hard to comprehend; God is Without sin, how can He be tempted? It is true He is without sin, but He is also fully man and fully God. When Jesus, came to earth as a man, He was tempted in every way that we are tempted, just to show us that He can provide us a way out of our temptation. We are not alone, He understands, and He is willing to help us escape the enemy's chains. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it says-"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." He is our strength, so we can overcome.

I am praying for you guys, I hope God uses this to bless you. I am in school now and I have to go, my next class starts at 11:30, and now it is now 11:25. You can email me, my email is on the blog just look for my picture and below it, it has a little about me and a link that says you can find out more. bye

Tabitha Reilly