Seeing the Cross as Beautiful

Surely this man was the Son of God!
Mark 15:39

GOD DOESN’T JUST want you to know about the cross. He wants you to see it in such a way that it grips you in the deepest parts of your heart and awakens you to an eye-opening, jaw-dropping realization—the cross is in your story! That’s the kind of clarity He wants to give you, and when you see it, nothing else can be the same again. Just look at the story of one of the soldiers who nailed Jesus to that beam of wood.

Just moments after Jesus breathed His last breath, the centurion declared a shocking truth. He had heard people say all kinds of things about Jesus, and about who He claimed to be. But in those moments while watching Jesus die, the centurion received spiritual sight, and he knew for himself exactly who Jesus was. This verse reminds us of why it should be impossible to just breeze past the cross. Something powerful and gruesome and gutsy happened there. As awful as Jesus’ death was for Him, it’s the best thing that ever happened to you and me. Once you truly see it, you are free. It moves you to fall down in awe and wonder, and confess, “I am forgiven!”

PRAYER
God, give me a clearer picture of Your salvation work through Jesus on the cross.

Satisfying the Need for Validations

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:17

YOU HAVE THE opportunity to walk in an intimate relationship with the God of creation. How stunning is that? You can know God as a Father. Not some distant, far-off force who set the world in motion. A Father who loves you. When you see Him clearly for who He is, you can come to know who you truly are in Him.

It’s tempting to look elsewhere for validation and affirmation of who you are. There are dozens of distractions trying to define your identity—your job, your talents, even your earthly family. At the core of our desire for validation is the need for the blessing of a father. We want to hear our dad say, “I love you. I’m proud of you. I’m here for you.”

This is precisely why God is revealing Himself as a perfect Father. He wants you to live knowing you are His child. When you live from this place of validation, your identity is secure, and you are set free to be a vessel of peace as He leads you.

PRAYER
Father, would Your love for me be the defining mark of my life? May I draw comfort today from Your fatherhood as I stand secure in You.

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Excerpted from Grace & Glory by Louie Giglio. © 2024 Louie Giglio. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson Gift.