living loved

And yet I will show you a more excellent way. – 1 Corinthians 12:31

What does this cuteness have to do with the cross? Everything. My sweet babes is all bound up by the hundred of leis her big sister placed around her (and obviously she doesn’t give a hoot). Well, she didn’t give a hoot for the first few minutes, and then the squirming set in followed by a whole lot of screeching and yelling to “Gemme out!”

My babe was all bound up and locked up and couldn’t move without restraint, and eventually, her fun turned into panic. Isn’t this like the sin we live in and walk in daily? Some times we don’t recognize our sin or we even disguise it as “innocent” or our gossip as “prayer requests”. Some times our sin seems fun (like those beautiful leis), and we can find all the reasons why it’s ok (even distorting scripture). Some times our sin is blatant and ugly and shameful, but often, as Christians, our sin is disguised or hidden. And let’s be honest, most of the time it is easier to point out the sins of others than our own.

Recently, I had coffee with a friend. We talked about Easter services, family, and friends. In the conversation we talked about the term “Chreasters” and how so many come to services on Christmas and Easter, but you may not see them again throughout the year, but it is so good to see people coming together to hear the message. In that conversation, my friend commented that one of the attendees during Easter service was a former criminal. She didn’t recognize this person at first. She just saw this person weeping throughout the entire service as the pastor reminded the congregation (regular attendees, children, sinners, saints, AND this former criminal) that the cross was and is FOR EVERYONE. Jesus was harassed, spit upon, mocked and ridiculed. Jesus was beaten, flogged, and carried OUR cross. But guess what, Christian? He carried your cross of bitterness and shame. He carried your cross of anger and gossip. He carried your cross of contempt and condemnation. He carried a cross He didn’t deserve and yet, He did it anyway.

That criminal – the sinner that is so easy to point out – Jesus died for that person too. Sin is sin. And sin separates us from God. All sins. Period. And so, who is that cross for? That cross is for the sinner and the saint. That cross is for the criminal, the gossiper who talks about the criminal in church, the elderly woman who hugs that former criminal and reminds them that Jesus chose them too, and the onlooker who wonders about the person weeping about the message of Christ and His never ending love and still doesn’t understand the love of the savior that saves you, me, the sinner and the saint with a love that is so remarkable that it drives you to your knees in awe and wonder of the God of the universe.

“And yet I will show you a more excellent way” – that most excellent way is the love that was hanging from a cross. Easter may be over, but may we remind each other of this love every day. Choose the more excellent way, friend.

XOXO, Loni