No More Separation

The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people.

Mark 10:45 (CEV)

Imagine some kids who’ve done everything wrong . . . on purpose. Their desks are a pig's pen. They won’t listen. They even beat up their last teacher, who tried to tell them what to do.

Now imagine a teacher saying he’d take care of them. However, instead of yelling and making them behave, he talks to them with care and teaches them the right way to do things. When the school still says they must be kicked out, he hands over his gold star and says, “Kick me out instead.”

God created us and could have demanded we serve him, but he didn’t. He let us make our own decisions. And the truth is we chose not to follow God’s ways. The punishment for this is being separated from God forever.

Nonetheless, God loves us so much that he didn’t want to be separated! He created heaven as a special space where we can live with him forever. However, for us to go live there with him, he needed to act like the teacher in the story above. How? He sent his son, Jesus, to die on the cross. When he did, he took the punishment for our disobedience. And because of that, if we believe in him, we can know him and be with him forever!

Jesus loves you and wants to be close to you. Do you want that, too? Tell him!

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Who is the most selfless person you know . . . someone who always helps other people out even when it’s hard or inconvenient? This week, ask them what inspires them to act this way. Take notes on some paper or in a journal so their inspirations can inspire you!

PRAY

Wow, Jesus! Thank you for giving your life so I could live. Help me to live for you.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Isaiah 53:10

Daniel 12:2

John 10:14-15

Philippians 2:6-8