THE CROSS

JESUS
Why
did You do it?

Why
did You allow them
to hang You
on the Cross for us?

I surely don't think we're worth it!

What
would cause You
to leave
Your HOME in Heaven
to walk amongst us
to experience our sorrow
to know our pain
to know the depths
of rejection and humiliation?

What
would cause You
to tell the angels to stop
when they wanted to protect You?

What
was going through Your Mind
when they nailed the spikes
in Your Hands?
The same Hands that reached out
to Touch and Heal

What
did You think
when they nailed
Your Feet
to the bottom of the Cross?
The same Feet
that once traversed the lands
to speak
of the Father's Love
The Feet
that walked the long journey
to raise Lazarus from the dead
The Feet
that were bruised and torn
in the desert
waiting for the 40 days to end
The same Feet
that were bathed
in perfume
by someone
who truly loved You

What
did You think
as they put that ugly
humiliating Crown
upon Your Head?

You knew each of their names
You knew all about them
their weaknesses
their strengths
and yet
You didn't stop them

Don't
You know that You looked
weak and defeated
upon that Cross?

How
did it feel
when the Blood began to flow
and You knew the Substance
that came so freely
from Your Body
would buy us
the people who hung You
our life?

What
did You think, Friend?

*******
Well . . . I'll tell You
what
I think

I think
it should have been me
upon that Cross!

I think
it should have been my blood
that flowed for all my sins

I think
what You did doesn't make sense
How could You give up
so much for us?

You know
we're not worthy

You know
most of us didn't get the point

Most of us treat You
as though You are still hanging
upon the Cross
weak and helpless

We treat You
as if
there was no
RESURRECTION

We treat You
as though You came and died
to be an example
not the actual
ATONEMENT
for our sins

We treat Your Death
and abuse as something
GOD does
because He has to
and it didn't even hurt

NO - I THINK NOT!!!

I know Your Heart
and I know it broke
from the rejection and pain

I know Your Heart
and I know You couldn't give
any less than ALL You have
to give us a chance to know Your Love

But, GOD
What
is
"SALVATION"?

To many of us
"SALVATION"
is simply
the call to go
to church once or twice a week
and offer up a prayer of thanks
for our meals

What
is
"SALVATION"
that it cost You
everything
to give it to us?

It's
MORE
Isn't it?
IT HAS TO BE!!!

Because
there were religions
before You came to earth

How
is
"SALVATION"
different?

***
CHILD, I LOOK UPON THIS WORLD
THIS EARTH I CREATED
AND I KNOW
MANY HAVE ENCOUNTERED ME
HAVE DRAWN
FROM THE WELL OF SALVATION
HAVE ACQUIRED MY BLOOD
WITHIN THEIR VEINS
AND HAVE TRULY BECOME
BORN-AGAIN
BORN OF MY SPIRIT
AND
MY LIFE

THAT IS "SALVATION"
TO BE SAVED
DELIVERED
FROM THE OLD BODY
THE OLD MIND
   THE OLD HEART
THE OLD SOUL
AND
RECEIVE
ALL NEW --- BRAND NEW
WHERE THE TREE OF LIFE
IS NOW
YOUR VERY SUBSTANCE

YES
"SALVATION"
DELIVERANCE IS WHAT I OFFER
BUT FOR THE RESULT
RESTORED COMMUNION
AND
FELLOWSHIP
WITH
MY PEOPLE

YES
I DESIRE
TO BE LOVED
TO BE WORSHIPPED
TO BE ADORED
TO BE PRAISED

I LOVE MY PEOPLE
AND
I LOVE
TO BE LOVED!!!

I AM
SERVED
BY
COUNTLESS THOUSANDS
BUT
I LONG
FOR
MORE

I LONG
TO BE LOVED

I LONG
TO TALK TO MY PEOPLE

I LONG
TO WALK
AND
TALK WITH THEM
AND
REVEAL
MY HEART
MY LIFE
TO THEM

YES
I AM
THE CREATOR
I AM
GOD
BUT
WITHIN
ME
WITHIN MY CHARACTER
IS ALSO
THE INNOCENCE AND MARVEL
OF A YOUNG CHILD
THE NURTURING OF A MOTHER
THE BEST OF MOTHERS
THE STEADY HAND
ON THE SHOULDER
OF A FRIEND
THE CONSTANT SMILE
OF AN ENCOURAGER
THE LOVE
THE GREAT LOVE
THAT ORIGINATES IN MY BEING!

YES
I GAVE UP MY SON
MY OWN
SO THAT I COULD HAVE
MANY, MANY SONS AND DAUGHTERS
ALL MY OWN
ALL THE SAME
ALL LOVED
AS I LOVE MY OWN!

I ASKED ABRAHAM
TO SACRIFICE HIS ONE AND ONLY
AND BY FAITH
BY GREAT FAITH
FAITH, WHICH I GAVE HIM
HE DID
UNTIL
I OFFERED ANOTHER SACRIFICE
I BLESSED HIM AND FROM ONE CAME MANY
AND SO DID
I SEND MY SON
BUT
WITHHOLD MY HAND
NOT
I SACRIFICED ONE
ONE PERFECT SON
SO THAT I COULD HAVE
MANY
AS MANY AS WOULD
COME TO ME

YES
I LONG
FOR A LARGE FAMILY
A FAMILY WHERE LOVE
IS THE KEY
WHERE LOVE
DRAWS ALL TO LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES
FOR EACH OTHER
WHERE LOVE
FORGIVES ALL THE TRESPASSES
AND OVERLOOKS
EACH OTHER'S FAILURES
WHERE LOVE
REMINDS EACH OTHER
THAT THEY WILL
STAND AND STAND
AND
UPHOLD
EACH OTHER
THROUGH IT ALL!!!

YES
I HAVE A PLAN FOR A BIG FAMILY
AND I AM ALREADY PLANNING
THE HOUSE
THE CITY
THE TEMPLE
FOR ALL
WHO WILL COME
AND
RECEIVE THE SACRIFICE
OF MY SON
TO CLAIM
HIS SHED BLOOD
AS THEIR OWN
AND WILL EXCHANGE
THE OLD FOR THE NEW
HEART, MIND AND SPIRIT

COME HOME, KIDS!
YOUR FATHER IS WAITING . . . . . LET'S TALK!!!



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