Because He Lives: Day 2
Day 2: The Cross: God's Payment Plan
Devotional
When Jesus died on the cross, He wasn't just making a statement about love - He was making a payment. Every sin you've committed, every failure that haunts you, every moment of rebellion against God carried a debt that had to be paid. The cross represents the moment when Jesus stepped in and paid what you could never afford. But knowing that Jesus died can still leave us wondering: Did it actually work? Was the payment enough? This is where many people get stuck - they understand the cross intellectually but still live with nagging doubts about whether they're truly forgiven. The cross tells us what Jesus did, but it's not the end of the story. It's the payment, but we need proof that the payment was accepted. Without that proof, we're left hoping, wondering, and striving to somehow add to what Christ has done. But God didn't leave us in uncertainty.
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death,
in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life. - Romans 6:4
Reflection Question
How does understanding the cross as a payment rather than just an example change your perspective on what Jesus accomplished?
“The cross tells me what Jesus did. But the empty tomb tells me that it worked.”
— Pastor Mike Mura
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for paying the debt I could never pay. Help me to truly grasp the magnitude of what You accomplished on the cross.