By Andrew Williams
Opening Prayer
Father, help us to look at the cross today not as a symbol of suffering, but as the ultimate expression of Your incredible love for us.
Today’s Scripture: Romans 5:8(NLT)
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
We know that Jesus is the bridge, but what was that bridge built from? The answer is found in the most profound event in human history: the cross. The cross is where God’s perfect justice and His incredible love met. Our sin, our “falling short,” demanded a payment. A holy God cannot simply overlook sin. The price was death—eternal separation from Him.
But here is the most beautiful news in the universe. God, in His great love, did not demand that payment from us. He paid it Himself. Jesus, the perfect Son of God, willingly took our place. The punishment we deserved was placed on Him. The cross wasn’t a tragic accident; it was a divine exchange. He took our sin so that we could receive His righteousness.
Look at the timing in the verse. Christ died for us “while we were still sinners.” He didn’t wait for us to clean up our act or promise to be better. He loved us and acted on our behalf at our absolute worst. The cross is not a symbol of how valuable we are; it is a symbol of how infinitely valuable God’s love is, that He would pay the ultimate price to bring us home.
Disciples’ Life Tip: Take a few minutes to quietly meditate on the cross. Picture Jesus there and say, “Thank you for taking my place. Thank you for paying my debt.” Let the reality of that sacrifice sink into your heart.
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, we can never fully comprehend the depth of Your sacrifice. We stand in awe of a love that would go to such lengths to rescue us. Thank You. Amen.
