Friday; November 2

Have you ever heard something several times then, all of a sudden, a new meaning explodes in your mind?  Last Sunday morning we were reading this passage from Colossians 1:19-20 when something struck me, “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”.  While this passage is filled with good and godly stuff, the phrase “having made peace through the blood of His cross” stopped me in my tracks.  I have never experienced a crucifixion, but from what I know about it, it had little to do with “peace”.  Crucifixion was an act of violence often involving several cruel efforts to inflict punishment and hasten death.  Crucifixion was done in a way to promote public humiliation – to strip away a person’s dignity.  In the Roman times crucifixion was the reminder to an occupied people of the power of the Roman government.  The cross seemed to be anything but a symbol of peace!  Yet, Paul uses this act in parallel with the principles of peace and reconciliation.  To me, this shows the power of God – He can take something so horrific and transform it into a plan of salvation.  It also shows the love of Christ – He was willing to endure the pain and indignity of a public crucifixion to provide for our own personal salvation.
Sometimes Christianity doesn’t seem to follow human logic (like salvation coming through a public execution of the Perfect Man), but in the plan of the Almighty God anything is possible.  Not everything we read in the Bible makes sense, but when we accept it for what it is (truth) we will receive the blessing of God.
Think About It!

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