It Wouldn't be Love
He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind.
Men clad in soldiers' garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed.
Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled. Arrogant, cocky. They had protected God, they thought, by killing this false one.
Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless. Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn't leave. "I will stay," she said softly. "I will stay."
All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command.
"It must be done. . . ," he said, and withdrew.
But as he stepped back in time, he heard the cry that he would someday scream: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He wrenched at tomorrow's agony.
The angel spoke again. "It would be less painful. . ."
The Creator interrupted softly. "But it wouldn't be love."
-From In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado; part of The Inspirational Study Bible: New Century Version by Max Lucado
What have you given up for others recently? Remember how great Christ's generosity was to you as you think of these "sacrifices".
God loved the world so much that He gave His One and only Son so that whoever believes in Him may not be lost, but have eternal life. -John 3:16 (NCV)
When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need, Christ died for us, although we were living against God. Very few people will die to save the life of someone else. Although perhaps for a good person someone might possibly die. But God shows His great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners. -Romans 5:6-8 (NCV)
In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. Christ Himself was like God in everything. But He did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for His own benefit. But He gave up His place with God and made Himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. And when He was living as a man, He humbled Himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused His death - death on a cross. -Philippians 2:5-8 (NCV)
Men clad in soldiers' garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed.
Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled. Arrogant, cocky. They had protected God, they thought, by killing this false one.
Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless. Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn't leave. "I will stay," she said softly. "I will stay."
All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command.
"It must be done. . . ," he said, and withdrew.
But as he stepped back in time, he heard the cry that he would someday scream: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He wrenched at tomorrow's agony.
The angel spoke again. "It would be less painful. . ."
The Creator interrupted softly. "But it wouldn't be love."
-From In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado; part of The Inspirational Study Bible: New Century Version by Max Lucado
What have you given up for others recently? Remember how great Christ's generosity was to you as you think of these "sacrifices".
God loved the world so much that He gave His One and only Son so that whoever believes in Him may not be lost, but have eternal life. -John 3:16 (NCV)
When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need, Christ died for us, although we were living against God. Very few people will die to save the life of someone else. Although perhaps for a good person someone might possibly die. But God shows His great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners. -Romans 5:6-8 (NCV)
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