Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Monday 04/05/10)

Today’s Devotional Written By An Inspired Mind: Tracy Koweh(soon To Be Dixon)

Connection to the Cross....The Series

Luke 23:34 (New Living Translation)

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”^[a] And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.^[b]

Today's message in the music comes from Mary J. Blige's hit song "I Am". The chorus of song says "Ain't nobody gonna treat you better. Ain't nobody gonna touch you better. Ain't nobody gonna love you better. More than I am, Than I am". The fact that Easter is over, doesn't mean that the connection to the cross is.

This week we will put away our Easter outfits, throw away our color dyed boiled eggs, and help the little ones finish off their candy. For some the day is over and so is the connection, but some of us have come to understand that what went down on Calvary thousands of years ago, is still true today, Easter should be something we celebrate every single day of our lives. Just as they crucified an innocent man back then, we are re-crucifying him today. The way we perpetrate to be Christians. The way we rob from God. The way we lie, steal, gossip and cheat all in His name.

The Bible says that there is no greater love than a man to lay down His life, and that’s exactly what Jesus did for us. No one, no matter what role they play in our lives, will be able to love us better than God. No matter how happy a person can make us feel, they can not and will not be able to match the true and powerful love that Jesus has for us. It is so touching and so God, that even in the midst of dying for OUR sins, He asked for OUR forgiveness. The same is true today, that He pleads for the sins we commit intentionally and for those we have no clue we are doing.

Last night as I was driving home, God flashed an illustration of Christ in my mind and showed me that with Jesus hands being nailed to the cross, it placed His heart near the center of the cross. That picture stuck in my mind and I hope it stays there forever. That's the whole story of Calvary in a nutshell. Jesus dying for us because we are a matter near and dear to His heart. That’s why no one else will be able to love us better. Most of us won’t take the fall for a crime we actually committed, let alone take the fall for the sins of others.

Today as we begin this first week after the Resurrection, let us allow God to resurrect our love for Him. Let us be so close to God that we could sing these words to Him,"Ain't nobody gonna treat you better. Ain't nobody gonna touch you better. Ain't nobody gonna love you better than I am. Than I am." The world has made Easter a one day celebration, let us make it not just a holiday, but an everyday event.......