The Power Of The Cross

Day 4 of 5 Day Devotional.

At The Cross We Find Family

I often love to look at families with a close bond; I try hard to create a family-pleasing to God. It wasn’t always this way for my life as I grew up in a single-parent home and love was the last thing on the agenda of our family. Life was always a hustle and making ends meet, never knowing what it meant to sit around the big family table to enjoy meals together. My mom had to work two jobs, and sometimes I was the helping hands for her. My desire to be part of a loving family never left my heart, and I aspired to create a place where others like me could find the family they never had. 

The family is very important to God and has been in his heart since the creation of the earth. The family is the unit that God uses to show us how much he loves us, so the enemy goes after the family unit more than anything else throughout the generations. The enemy knows that a strong family unit will also breed strong communities, so he works overtime to break that bond. One strategy of the enemy is to cause discord and separation because this gives way to the spirit of rejection. When we feel rejected often, we find ourselves in rebellion to those in authority and leadership because of the lack of love from the parent that walked away. 

But at the foot of the cross, we see that Jesus in all of his pain and suffering was concerned for the ones he loved especially his mother. He was broken to leave her alone and at that moment provided for her a new son in the Apostle John. That day John also received the greatest honor to care for the mother of the savior of the world. Today you may have experienced the lack of love from your father or mother, perhaps your brothers and sisters have walked away from you, but I want you to know at the cross you become part of a family that transcends blood relatives in the natural realm and you are grafted into a far superior family – The Family of God. 

Desire: Lord, help me to appreciate the Royal family I now belong to.

Today’s Devotional Verse

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: Luke 23:30‭-‬50 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.23.30-50.KJV

The Power Of The Cross

Day 3 of 5 Day Devotional.

At The Cross We Find Freedom

I hope by now you are appreciating the meaning and power of the cross. Today we will look at the aspect of freedom; I often stop and think about prisoners, and as a Pastor, my call and responsibility are to be concerned about the heart condition of all people. I try to spend time every day praying for those who perhaps are forgotten or despised by society because of their actions. I can only imagine a life behind bars day after day, being reminded constantly that the cold steel that keeps them in darkness is the price paid for poor choices made. Never having enough space to move freely, having to use the bathroom with no privacy and the nagging voice of guilt that reminds them of the crime they committed. It sounds treacherous just to imagine it yet every day God’s people are behind bars and don’t even recognize it. 

The bars we live behind are not physical, but they take on the form of spiritual, emotional and mental bars. Some of us have done things in our past we regret, some of us have been abused and carry the scars that keep us from loving or trusting anyone. Maybe even committed unspeakable acts torment us daily. We can’t forgive ourselves, and we can’t forgive others. No matter what length or height of our bars we all have had them in our lives. 

At the foot of the cross, we see two thieves deserving of death because of their choices and crimes. And if we go a step further we can see humanity displayed in these two men. Both being in the presence of the Son of God, seeing and hearing everything from the perspective of Jesus and having the chance to freedom even in death and one stays in rebellion while the other seizes the opportunity to freedom, and to make things right with God before he leaves the earth.

Jesus in all his love and mercy offers this unworthy soul grace and freedom from the guilt that plagued him till that point. Today at the foot of the cross you have a choice to break the bars of un-forgiveness, hatred, bitterness, a wretched past, guilt, shame and torment as Jesus offers you the same freedom he offered the thief. 

Desire: Lord, help me to accept your freedom; I do not want to be locked up anymore.

Today’s Devotional Verse

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, Luke 23:34‭-‬36 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.23.34-36.KJV