Inspired by...: April 2012

Inspired by... a prayer

"...so that I may always live near the cross."

This prayer from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers and meditations, inspired me to question:

At the foot of the cross... am I a bystander, a friend, a lover or a worshipper?

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me,

let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23 ESV)

Not that my true position in Christ ever changes, but who am I at the foot of the cross today?

A bystander? I've never denied Christ verbally as Peter did. But how often have I denied Him by my actions? How often have I stood as a bystander with indifference, rather than compassion? with apathy, rather than passion?

God forgive me!

A friend? Yes, Jesus is my friend. He knows my pain, my joy, my sorrow, my failures, my dreams. He will guide and comfort me through it all, if I turn to Him. Jesus offers us hope. But friendship is a two-way street. How have I been a friend to Jesus?

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. (Song of Solomon 2:1)

A lover? Jesus, the Lover of my soul. Who loves me, me, sinful, wretched, unworthy, me. Who loves me more than He?

None.

How do I show my love in return?

A worshipper? What better place to worship, exalt, lift on high the name of Jesus than at His blood stained feet. The import of what He hath done for me threatens to remove the breath from my body, and cast me prostrate, sobbing in broken thankfulness. How often do I allow myself to truly ponder the brokenness of Christ?

Not often enough.

He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)