DECEMBER 14, 2025 ~ FROM A PASTOR'S HEART

DECEMBER 14 DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25

The message of the cross is an offense to those who will not believe. The world cannot understand the need for the cross or its message. It is from a proper perspective of the cross that we are called to live. We can never walk away, ignore it, never take it for granted and never lose its prominence in our lives. Paul said that he would boast in nothing except for the cross of Christ. He told the Corinthians that he would preach nothing among them other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified. If we lose the cross, we have lost everything. Without the cross, we are still in our sins. It was on the cross that Jesus, the sinless Son of God, became our substitutionary Atonement...simply put, He died in our place.

The cross is a very ugly and horrible place, but at the same time, a very wonderful place. We cannot begin to know the horror of the cross. The Bible says He went through this great torture because He loves us. The guilty die on the cross...but not so with Jesus, who was guilty of nothing. It is we who are guilty, who deserve to be punished for our sins and who stand without excuse in our disobedience before a Holy God. In His great love, the Father sent the Son to take our place. So now when we look at the cross, we see a place of strange beauty. We see a place of enormous love. We see the place where every person must meet the Lord. It is at the foot of the cross that all things come into proper perspective. If you have never trusted in the One who died on that cross for your sin, but you would like to, you can right now. Call out to Him right now and say "Lord Jesus, I am a sinner and I know I cannot fix my sin on my own. I believe you are the perfect Son of God, that you died for my sin, that you rose from the dead overcoming sin, death and hell for all who believe in You. Thank You for doing that for me...I trust You as my Savior and Lord... forgive me of my sin and bring me into Your kingdom." If you prayed that prayer (or something similar) with sincerity, the Scripture promise that He will forgive and He will save you for eternity.

Please share your thoughts.