When you think about Jesus and what he accomplished on the cross, what does that do to your heart? How does that affect your thoughts?
What emotions do you feel about your sin? God’s grace? Jesus’ love for you?
I don’t mean to imply that we all should feel the same things or think the same thoughts. I am just saying that we should feel something and think some thoughts in relation to Jesus. There is no category for a Christian like “professional distance.” We are not (or at least should not be) dispassionate observers of the cross. This great victory that Jesus has won should cause joy to rise up within us.
When we look at Jesus we should feel something that reminds us of what it cost God to break the bondage of sin in our lives. We should find ourselves wondering and pondering what a glorious event the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is. Because in Jesus we have life eternal. In Jesus, we have been brought near to God. In Jesus, we have access to the throne room of God. This is no mere trifle.
I know that for some it is difficult to engage their emotions when discussing religious subjects. But that may be a huge part of the problem. We are not merely talking about a religious point of view when we talk about Jesus. We are talking about our King. We are talking about our most cherished treasure. We are talking about the one who transcended time and space and entered into the disaster we call the human race. This Jesus walked among broken people, and he too became broken so that we would become whole.
During Lent, we should work to stoke into flame our passion for God, for Jesus. We should not be idle in this pursuit. We should strive to make sense of what all of this means for each of us. It’s not that we are going to understand how it works. I don’t need to understand the mechanics and physics of the engine in my truck to know that when I turn the key it will start. The hard work has been done. I just need to press the gas.
Take a few moments and ask yourself this question. Do I love Jesus more today than I did yesterday? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Until we become comfortable with answering the question and making the needed adjustments, we will flounder on this journey of faith.
I pray that we would make the psalmists passionate declaration a reality in our own lives.
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. (Psalm 41:1)
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