-The greatest act of love-

"For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) This verse tells us just how much God loves us. He gave His only Son to the world and to people who would betray Him, spit in His face, whip Him, and nail Him to a cross. That is the greatest act of love. A love that would die for people who sinned against Him. As He was on the cross dying, He looked down at the faces of people who hated Him and beat Him and said: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Jesus was asking God to forgive those same people that drove a nail through both His wrist. That is LOVE! He forgave us knowing we would mess up and sin against Him. He went from people welcoming Him saying "Hosanna in the highest!" to a few days later people screaming "crucify Him!". He died for all of us. If we receive His forgiveness, we become free from shame, regrets, and failures. It is through Him we are made whole! This is so hard for some of us to grasp. I know I am far from worth a sacrifice like that. But yet, he hung there bleeding for me. With His blood, He washed away all of our sins. He took our place on the cross. He went through all of that pain in hopes that we would choose to follow Him and be with Him forever. Is that not the greatest love story? There was no guarantee that people would choose to follow Him, yet He did it anyway to show us just how much He loves us. It is through His death we have life. No matter who you are, or what you've done Jesus forgives you unconditionally!  

A couple of years ago I had a dream about Christ, it was so vivid I can remember every detail: I was on my knees at the feet of Jesus. His lifeless body was covered in blood. I was there with Mary and a few of the disciples. I had a rag in my hand wiping all of the blood He had bled for me off of His feet. I was sobbing, I watched my tears fall upon His feet and roll down His bloody scared feet. In the dream, I thought to myself: "He went through all of this for me? Why? I am not worth all of this. He died for me, my sins and the sins of the world. He went through all of this to show me just how much He loves me! He took my place upon that cross and washed away my sins with His blood. This is the greatest act of love! This story in the Bible also shows us that if Christ can forgive us, and all of our sins against Him, surely we can forgive those who have sinned against us. Forgiveness is truly freeing! "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32 NIV)