His Son to Die

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

-Romans 5:6-11 (New International Version)

Today driving into work, I head the song on the local Christian radio station by Steven Curtis Chapman called Cinderella. Hearing him sing reminded me of the tragic news of his daughter’s death last summer. My mind then began to ponder what sort of grief I would experience if one of my boys were to die tragically like that. The thought was too much for me to bear. I burst into tears – right there in my car driving to work. I wouldn’t trade the life of one of my boys for anything or anyone. I’m sorry, but if it’s between my kid and yours…

It didn’t take long for God to gently and empathetically remind me “now you see how it felt for Me.”

It’s amazing that God was willing to endure one of the most painful emotions I can fathom, the death of His Child, so He could be close to strangers.

Thank you, Father, for sending Your Son to endure the pain and shame of death on a cross so that I could be close to You. Amen.