My 16 year old daughter Emily is amazing. She's much more mature than I was when I was her age. I'm proud and humbled by her maturity and the depth of her love and walk with Christ.
After listening to the Passion CD "Everything Glorious" a few weeks ago, Emily informed me that "Jesus Paid It All" was her new favorite worship song. Recently, she discovered the video on YouTube and discussed a few viewer comments with me:
"The video begins with the raising of a large cross," Emily told me. "Several commenters stated that the song and video were good, but they thought that the cross was a distraction," she continued. "Duh! Isn't that the point - the cross should be a distraction!"
The cross - the beautiful, indescribable cross of Jesus Christ - must be the distraction.
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”
then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Hebrews 10:14-18
"Jesus paid it all". There is nothing I could ever sacrifice to atone for my sins, and yet "all to Him I owe."
What then am I to do?
"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Hebrews 13:16
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2
May I never cease to be distracted by the cross of Jesus Christ - the Sacrificial Lamb Who paid my debt and raised my life up from the dead.
Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.
(The photo of the cross at the top was taken last May in St. Augustine, Florida. The cross is 208-feet tall and marks the spot where Menendez landed in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565, and where the first Catholic mass was held on American soil.)
The Carnival of Beauty - The Beauty of Sacrifice - is graciously being hosted this week by Ann at the Holy Experience of Listening.
