When we say something unkind and see pain on a friend’s face, it hurts. When we mess up again and again, it hurts. When others ignore or make fun of us, it hurts. No matter what it looks like or whose fault it is, sin always hurts.

Think about a time when your guilt or pain felt so heavy that you couldn’t even get out of bed. Now try to imagine the heaviness of everyone’s sin. What would it feel like to carry the hurt and shame of everything our families, our friends, our churches . . . the whole world has ever done wrong (including you and me)! Throughout history!

Thinking about it like that, it’s no surprise that the weight of all this sin began squeezing the life out of Jesus the night before His execution (MATT. 26:36-44). The next day, even His Father would leave Him to die for us. No other suffering can compare.

Our sin, all our sin, was put on Jesus to pay for on the cross. But His love kept Him going. His strength bore it and His power beat it. Thanks to Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can know without a doubt that sin will not and cannot win.

By: Julie Ackerman Link

To Pray About . . .

Thank You, Jesus, for taking all my sin, guilt and shame. Thank You for loving me enough to die for me. I want to love You more and more each day.