Some Thoughts

Because of God's justice he cannot dismiss your sin, but because of his love he cannot dismiss you. So, in an act which stunned the heavens, he punished himself on the cross for your sins. God's justice and love are equally honored. ~Max Lucado

I'm reading The Great House of God by Max Lucado right now. The book is full of amazing things to think about. The above quote is so far my favorite. I've never been able to really express, even to myself, why God did what He did. To me, this quote takes everything I believe as one who follows Christ and makes it palatable. God is just, but God is loving. In order to honor both of his attributes, he offered himself up for our sins.

Last week, my pastor put it this way. God is a Merciful-Consuming Fire. He is Just. He is Holy. He wants us to be holy. But He is Merciful. And because He is merciful, He is willing to give us a million chances to be Holy as He is Holy. And through Christ he gave us a means to claim those million chances. We have only to believe that Christ died to take away our sins, to confess our sins, and God adopts us into his family and forgives everything we confess. Amazing.