He Did it For You
By Marc Eskander
When you think of sinning, remember the Lord’s suffering.
When your life takes you away from the path of Christ, remember the path of Calvary.
When your feet begin to wander into sin, remember the nails driven into the feet of Christ.
When your actions take a sinful turn, remember the actions of the Jews against Christ.
When your hands are used for evil instead of good, remember the nails in both Christ’s wrists.
When your thoughts become sinful, remember the excruciating pain radiating from the thorns piercing the scalp of Christ.
When you’re thinking of humiliating someone, remember the humiliation and mockery Christ endured innocently for you.
When you’re about to betray someone, remember the pain Christ felt at his closest friend betraying him to die, for you.
When your integrity and faith is shaken, remember Peter’s denial of his master because of the shame of crucifixion, for you.
When your actions and words leave scourges on the back of your neighbor, remember the flesh being ripped from the body of Christ over and over again. For you.
When your cross becomes heavy, when you start to tire, remember Christ dragging his cross, the one He would be killed on, through the streets of Jerusalem, while being mocked and spat on, bleeding from His open wounds, sleepless…facing his impending crucifixion. For you.
When your life becomes difficult, exhausting, painful, sorrowful. When it has stripped everything away from you. When it has stretched you to your limit. When your friends have become your enemies. When you feel alone, outside Jerusalem, crucified to your cross. Think of Christ on the cross. His thoughts were for his executioners. For the criminals. For his mother and disciples.
Pray. Pray for God’s will in your life to be done. Pray that God strengthens you. Pray for others. Pray for your enemies, the ones that hate you speak evil of you. Mock you, spit on you. Think of others, suffer with others and allow your pain to help others carry theirs.
When you’re in the depths of sin. When you don’t feel like there’s a way out, when you feel like you’re too far gone for Christ. Remember the Resurrection. Remember that moment the disciples hopes and dreams were made alive when they saw Christ Risen. Remember the redemption of Peter from his denial and the love Christ showed, remember the rescue of Adam and Eve from Hades, remember the triumph of Christ over death and sin. That His arms are outstretched just for you. For you to return.