Live for Him, He died for You (and me!)

Do you ever plod along wondering if your lifeline to God has been disconnected by some self-serving buffoon – AKA, self????  I’ve been that way since my last blog, which happened to be right around daylight savings time.  Man, I just wish someone would leave the ol’ clock alone! Well, I know that is no excuse, but I’ve got to blame something!!! 

Then, last night, we had a prayer and worship time at church.  I didn’t have some huge revelation nor a big “AHA” moment, but I did hear the soft whisper of the Holy Spirit saying to just wait.  He’s at work and even though I don’t FEEL His presence all the time, He’s here and working.

Our burdens nailed to the cross

During this worship time, they had put a cross up on stage with a single overhead light shining down on it.  Also, on the screens was The Passion of the Christ playing silently.  Wow – what a powerful night.  Throughout the night, as each were lead, they would walk up to the front where there was a table with 3x5 cards, markers, nails and a hammer.  We were encouraged to write down our desires, diseases, sorrows, burdens, addictions, or whatever was needed, bring it to the cross, and nail it there.  Karl and I did our own, then we did one together.  What a blessed time.

The thing that REALLY got me last night was watching The Passion without sound and imagining what he was saying and thinking.  As He’s being mocked, spit on, beat, tortured, and tortured some more, He would look at the people doing it to Him and LOVE them!!!  As I was watching that, I was putting myself in His shoes and getting angry, yet here he was, eyes that bore to the soul, loving the very people who despised Him.  Loving ME when I’ve not loved Him back - when I persecuted Him and sent Him to the cross.  Oh, and what He did for us.  I placed myself in His shoes and HATED the people who mocked Him.   

I wanted JUSTICE! 

As I was watching this show, His eyes just penetrated my soul.  He would look deep and LOVE me in spite what He saw in my soul. I realized how much I need Him – how much I want that kind of love in me.  The kind of love that can love those who treat me so bad.  And what He went through is nowhere NEAR the minor things I deal with in life.  Oh, how my heart loves Him for what He’s done for me and what He’s teaching me!   

This time of year, let’s reflect on the love we need to bring into our lives towards the unlovable.  And not just ANY unlovable, but the people who are actually crucifying us.  Through God’s word and the Helper (Holy Spirit), we can learn to love them with a love coming from nothing we can produce on our own.  It’s time we become true disciples of Christ. 

Will you join me?  Will you walk the path Christ walked and are you willing to lay it all down so we can start reaping the harvest?  It’s Harvest time!