I’m ashamed to admit it, but sometimes I can dismiss the suffering of those around me. I can be so driven to get everything on my “to do” list complete that even a complaint from my closest family members can go unnoticed.
Then suddenly I will see their suffering. The eyes of my heart will be opened to see that this person, whom I love, has really been hurting for some time now and maybe I should take them more seriously. And when I fully realize their pain, I begin to have “com-passion” for them…I begin to “suffer-with” them.
And I think “Surely this should be the response of our love for one another.”
(photo source Lechu798, Wikimedia Commons)
But if I turn this thought on its head…
If I get out of myself and really begin to search for new perspectives, I can see that this is how God’s love was perfectly demonstrated through the Passion of Christ as he suffered and died on the Cross.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I John 4:10
God loved us so much that he could see and feel our suffering.
He could see our fear of death and feel the tremendous weight of our guilt and shame.
He understood that the blindness of our hearts needed healing and He longed to open the doorway of our faith, hope and love.
God could see us in our distrusting ways trying to carry our burdens alone and it pricked His heart.
In his perfect plan, He longed to relieve our suffering…to take it away when he could but in other times to weather the storm with us.
Seeing Jesus on the cross with my heart tells me this.
The apostle Paul writes of a change of heart:
…circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men but from God.” ~Romans 2:29
I love how Fanny Crosby who wrote over 8,000 hymns expresses it:
Tell me the story of Jesus; write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious; sweetest that ever was heard. Love in that story so tender, clearer than ever I see; Stay let me weep while you whisper, Love paid a ransom for me.
When I think on these words, written by a woman that was blind from shortly after birth, I realize that she must have seen the story of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection in her mind. An through her ability to create her own pictures, the story was seared on her heart.
Dear Lord, may we live in peace this weekend as we rest from our work week. Help us to fully realize the magnificent beauty of your sacrifice. Fall fresh upon us and give us a view of your passion that is deeper than ever before, so that we may hear your Spirit singing songs of love to our hearts. In Jesus we pray…
Peace be with you this weekend and may God bless you and keep you throughout the week to come. Thank you:)
#newperspectivesofthecross
God Thru the Arts 
