Oh the Work of the Cross

"Take words with you, and return to the Lord. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride on horses, nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, 'you are our gods.' For in you the fatherless find mercy.

"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread; his beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like lebanon. Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall be revived like grain, and grow like a vine Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon." -Hosea 14:2-7

First of all, here are clean instructions on repentance-- to turn and return to the Lord with the confession of sin with the mouth, cry out for mercy in an honest state of knowing where you are. Turning and casting down false idols and leaning into God to find sustenance and sufficiency.

What really sticks out to be is: "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from him…" 

"Surely He has borne out griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." -Isaiah 53:4-6

This almost makes me sick. It hits so hard on the inside. God was able to turn His wrath away and bless us with every blessing--and how often I forget that to have mercy upon me and remain just, He had to turn His wrath upon someone else. How can I ever think that there are No Consequences? 

He bore my sins upon His body and became sin so that I would be able to be forgiven and find new life through His death. You are able to heal my backsliding and love me freely because Your very Son hung on a cross and breathed His last forgiving and sacrificing all that He was and is. How can I ever think forgiveness is an "EASY" thing? 

I think I'm finally starting understand what the scripture was talking about when it said that no one who has understood the work of salvation can willfully keep on willfully sinning, for that indeed is mockery of the sacrifice of Christ and crucifying Him again and again.

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. -1 John 3:9

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly girt, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. -Hebrews 6:4-6

Is sin a big deal? Was the cross a big deal?

Remember the cross. The cross-- the place where man's condemnation and God's mercy met.

Is sin a big deal? Was the cross a big deal?

Oh Jesus, my heart is so convicted, forgive me. Forgive me for lessening the work of the cross, of the Love that you poured out when you poured out your mercy, forgiveness all through the pouring out of your blood.

Oh God! Forgive me all the times when I believe that I'm not worth anything and that you don't really love me… YOU LOVE ME. You took my sin upon Yourself. You became weak so that you could die in place of me. You humbled yourself so that Your very Wrath and Justice could be satisfied, and for Love you took my place. You took my place. It was my sin that kept You on that cross, not because my sin nailed you there--but because of Love for me, You Could Not not finish the work that would bring me freedom and life. Jesus, you are so worthy. You are so worthy of all I have to give. You are so worthy of everything I am, and every hope to be. I give You all. Jesus, I give you all of myself, how could I do otherwise when faced with such love and sacrifice! Jesus, You are beautiful.

I see now why You are the Only One found worthy. This selfless act of love--the cross--has qualified you to be the One to take the scroll and release the judgements, for it was through Your death and Your spilled blood that forgiveness and salvation were made. You are the Only One Found Worthy. There is No One Like You Lord. JESUS YOU"RE BEAUTIFUL.