Because of the Cross

From the beginning of time, we have been called children of God. The power of that statement is unmeasurable. Our God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving. Our God, we can call "Father" and "Savior." He has proven His amazing love for us time and time again since Creation, but today marks the day where His sacrificial love would change the world forever. About 2,000 years ago, the King of kings "humbled Himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."- Philippians 2:7-11 Because of the cross... 

 1. We are free to love. "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."- Psalm 103:12. The cross shattered the chains that held us slaves to sin. This freedom gives us purpose. It gives us the purpose of love. When we love, we are in the center of God's will. "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'."-Galatians 5:13-14 

 2. We are children of God making us co-heirs with Christ. "So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father'. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."- Galatians 4:3-7. And, because we are heirs, we can find joy in our sufferings because we have hope that our sufferings are for His great glory. We have no reason to fear because we are His children. "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father'. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory."- Romans 8:15-17 

 3. We have hope. "For in this hope we were saved."- Romans 8:24. "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."- Psalm 71:14 

 4. We have faith because we have hope. We have hope because we have love. "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."- 1 Corinthians 13:13. We have this steady hope, as anchor for our soul, in the Perfecter of our faith, Christ Jesus. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."- Hebrews 12:2. Lord, please inscribe your name onto my heart and your promises on my veins so that with every heart beat, I am overwhelmed with your passionate love to the point of sacrificial faith. 

 5. We have love. And this love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8) Because His love never fails, we can stand strong in the power of Christ. "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today...The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still."- Exodus 14:13-14 

 We have to be still. We have everything because of the cross so that we can give up everything for the sake of the cross. We were sacrificed for so that we can sacrifice ourselves for Him everyday. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship."- Romans 12:1. "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise- the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."- Hebrews 13:15-16

 "Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out. Bring me to my knees. Lord, I lay me down. Rid me of myself, I belong to You. Lead me, lead me to the cross."