The
other day my wife and I were in the car heading on a short day trip with our
kids. Praise the Lord
My
wife who has birthed our two kids began talking and dreaming about our upcoming
move to Texas. We talked about much, but one of the things that stuck out to me
was when she talked about how her body looked after birthing two kids. She said
this, and it really spoke to me:
"...Yes
my stomach may have stretch marks, but when I look at our kids my heart grows
with joy, and I say that ‘it was all worth it’..."
I
had to stop her right there. And share these thoughts with her, just as I am
sharing them with you now.
Isn't that what our Lord Jesus does with us? Though we may act a fool sometimes.
Completely walk in our flesh and do right the opposite of what He tells us. He
looks at His birthing scars and says "I love them... they are
completely worth it."
How
can I say this? Because Christ on that cross, born our sins, shame, guilt, and
took on the full wrath of God so that we would not have too! And allowed us to
become His children! Just look at this:
Gal 4:5 ESV
to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as
sons.
Eph 1:5 ESV
he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according
to the purpose of his will,
As
He took our sin and shame on the cross, paying and making the way for us to
become adopted sons of God, He was still filled with joy over us!...
Just
look:
Heb 12:2 ESV
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right
hand of the throne of God.
While
He hung there on the cross enduring all that He had too for us, He saw us and
had joy... and even now when He looks to His scars He says "They were
worth it!"....
So
let us praise the Lord that:
Rom 5:8 ESV
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
There
is no real end to this writing, but one of encouragement! Know that today as
you come to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, that they three in one look at
Jesus bears and says:
"He
was worth it!"
Please feel free
to share any thoughts.
Your Brother in Christ
Grace and Peace be with you
Nate Cook, Setting Captives
Free Team Member
And Jesus said to me:
Eze 3:10b-11a "...Receive into your heart
all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get
to the captives..."
