Do you remember as a kid having someone hold you down on the ground and demand that you say "Uncle"? Usually a bully or a sibling, or sometimes one and the same!
That feeling of frustration turning to rage as they would not let you up until you gave in and submitted.
I remember my kids doing this to each other and one child who shall remain nameless, looming over one of the others with a string of spit hanging from their mouth just waiting for them to give in. Yuck! But it did usually evoke the required response quickly.
Just a silly childish game that we have outgrown, right? Sometimes it doesn't feel that way though. Maybe it is a boss or spouse or friend who tries to manipulate you. Or the circumstances of life just wear you down to the point where you are ready to throw in the towel. You are ready to beg for mercy and just give in to all that is wearing you down.
You are ready to say "Uncle". But there is One who withstood all that hell could throw at Him and He never cried uncle.
That One was Jesus. And He went through all of the torture prior to the cross for us. He endured crucifixion on that cross for us. But more than that, what brings me to tears when I think of it, is that He suffered through separation from the Father for US. He gave up His rights as a Son so that we could become heirs with Him. He allowed all of our sins, past, present and future - the entirety of mankinds sins to be heaped upon Him. He paid our debt so that we wouldn't have to. He accepted the gross horror of all our transgressions that so that sin and death would not prevail against us. He lived through having His Father turn His back on Him, His only beloved Son, as He carried the repugnance and blackness of our sins.
And through all of that Jesus never cried "Uncle". Through all that hell threw at Him, through feeling the isolation from His Father at those last moments before death, He never gave up, He never gave in. And why did He do that? Because of the love of our Father towards us.
Today is Easter, or as we Christians call it, resurrection Sunday. That time of the year when we remember and celebrate not only Jesus' death on the cross, but more importantly His rising again. He is not just a dead man in a tomb. He is the living Son of God who because of His sacrifice, gave to us life, and that life eternal.
And to me what is most amazing is that He doesn't make us beg for that mercy; He doesn't force us to cry "Uncle". He freely died for us so that we could have all that the Father has in store for us; and all we have to do is say yes.
Yes to life and love and freedom. Yes to peace and joy. Yes to the Holy Spirit who comforts and guides and teaches us. Not an anguished cry of "Uncle" but a joyous "Yes"!
If you have never said yes to that life in Him, it is my prayer that today would be that day. Let this be the day you accept that free gift of salvation and life. And if you have said yes before, then say yes to more. The Father has so much in store for you. More than you can hope or imagine. All it takes is truly seeking Him and as the bible says, you will find Him.
As the saying goes, today is the first day of the rest of your life. The first day of your new life and freedom in Him. Just say yes.
That feeling of frustration turning to rage as they would not let you up until you gave in and submitted.
I remember my kids doing this to each other and one child who shall remain nameless, looming over one of the others with a string of spit hanging from their mouth just waiting for them to give in. Yuck! But it did usually evoke the required response quickly.
Just a silly childish game that we have outgrown, right? Sometimes it doesn't feel that way though. Maybe it is a boss or spouse or friend who tries to manipulate you. Or the circumstances of life just wear you down to the point where you are ready to throw in the towel. You are ready to beg for mercy and just give in to all that is wearing you down.
You are ready to say "Uncle". But there is One who withstood all that hell could throw at Him and He never cried uncle.
That One was Jesus. And He went through all of the torture prior to the cross for us. He endured crucifixion on that cross for us. But more than that, what brings me to tears when I think of it, is that He suffered through separation from the Father for US. He gave up His rights as a Son so that we could become heirs with Him. He allowed all of our sins, past, present and future - the entirety of mankinds sins to be heaped upon Him. He paid our debt so that we wouldn't have to. He accepted the gross horror of all our transgressions that so that sin and death would not prevail against us. He lived through having His Father turn His back on Him, His only beloved Son, as He carried the repugnance and blackness of our sins.
And through all of that Jesus never cried "Uncle". Through all that hell threw at Him, through feeling the isolation from His Father at those last moments before death, He never gave up, He never gave in. And why did He do that? Because of the love of our Father towards us.
Today is Easter, or as we Christians call it, resurrection Sunday. That time of the year when we remember and celebrate not only Jesus' death on the cross, but more importantly His rising again. He is not just a dead man in a tomb. He is the living Son of God who because of His sacrifice, gave to us life, and that life eternal.
And to me what is most amazing is that He doesn't make us beg for that mercy; He doesn't force us to cry "Uncle". He freely died for us so that we could have all that the Father has in store for us; and all we have to do is say yes.
Yes to life and love and freedom. Yes to peace and joy. Yes to the Holy Spirit who comforts and guides and teaches us. Not an anguished cry of "Uncle" but a joyous "Yes"!
If you have never said yes to that life in Him, it is my prayer that today would be that day. Let this be the day you accept that free gift of salvation and life. And if you have said yes before, then say yes to more. The Father has so much in store for you. More than you can hope or imagine. All it takes is truly seeking Him and as the bible says, you will find Him.
As the saying goes, today is the first day of the rest of your life. The first day of your new life and freedom in Him. Just say yes.