Recently, I was asked, “What does it mean to embrace the
cross?” What a power-packed question! Pondering that question, my heart was refreshed
and ravished once again.
Embracing the cross only happens when I’m being rather than doing… being in the Presence of Jesus, God’s love sacrifice, the
slain, bloody Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world. With arms flung wide open,
He is calling, “Come as you are”. This love invitation overflows with kindness
to needy people like you and me.
Embracing the cross, I see afresh the beauty and joy of all
that Jesus is and has done. “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
“God made Him [Jesus] who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him [Jesus], we might become the
righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Wouldn't you and I be
fools to reject God’s love invitation offered so freely? It's the great exchange! We give Jesus our inadequacies and insecurities, our guilt
and shame, our pride and self-righteousness, our doubts and fears, and
tendencies to please and perform. Jesus gives us forgiveness and worth. He
lavishes upon us a no strings attached love, hope, encouragement and comfort.
Embracing the cross, receiving the height and depth and
width and length of Christ’s love, compels us to love with the same immeasurable
love. (2 Corinthians 5:14) “Our sin” looks no greater or less than “someone
else’s sin.”
