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Proverbs of a 38 yr old man
The Beauty of the Cross. The beauty of his sufferings. Jesus went through hell and back beginning from the garden of Gethsemane to the skull of Golgotha. Betrayed, beaten, and bruised He suffered unto death. He died once for our sins. An innocent person died for those who are guilty. Christ did this to bring you to God, when his body was put to death and his spirit was made alive. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. Let us look 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. Even now, we are seated with Him in heavenly places. But there is beauty in the cross of our sufferings now. Can you see it? When things do not make sense in this life and suffering seems to have no purpose, remember Christ. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus suffered so that he could suffer along side us. To intercede daily on our behalf. Where do you think that strength comes from? That inner help and passion? God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That's why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm. Amazing how the beauty of his sufferings starts to be reflected in our sufferings, leading us to the power found in his resurrected life. Yes, God has a way to make beauty out of our ashes. To bring joy out of our mourning, and to cover us with a garment of praise rather than a spirit of despair. The beauty of the Cross is that God chose to suffer along side his creation bearing there sin and shame. In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. Look at your journey in life and see the beauty in the cross you bear daily. Jesus has been their along side you all these years. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. The Cross, its beautiful. Look how he is making all things new in you.
Study 1 Peter 2:21
