Would You Take it On?

How many times have you watched someone you love suffer and thought to yourself, I wish I could do it for them? I remember a number of years ago, before I had my own kids, my colleague was lamenting at the suffering of her daughter with a sinus infection. I remember her saying that she would do anything to relieve her of the malady. While I understood then what she meant, I understand now the extent to which she would have been willing to take on her child’s illness. I can’t imagine anything I would give to my child before I’d take it on myself if I could.

And this is exactly the kind of love God has for us; in fact, God’s love is even bigger and more perfect than our own. This is why God sent Jesus into the world, to bear suffering and separation, to bear the weight of our sin. And when Jesus took on the wound of our separation from God, we were restored. The power of God’s love is not to be underestimated, because a sacrifice like Jesus’ is only done out of genuine and deep love.

God of love, since you have taken on our wounds, help us to be examples of selfless care and compassion in the world. Amen. — JEM

Contributed by Would You Take it On?

How many times have you watched someone you love suffer and thought to yourself, I wish I could do it for them? I remember a number of years ago, before I had my own kids, my colleague was lamenting at the suffering of her daughter with a sinus infection. I remember her saying that she would do anything to relieve her of the malady. While I understood then what she meant, I understand now the extent to which she would have been willing to take on her child's illness. I can't imagine anything I would give to my child before I'd take it on myself if I could. And this is exactly the kind of love God has for us; in fact, God's love is even bigger and more perfect than our own. This is why God sent Jesus into the world, to bear suffering and separation, to bear the weight of our sin. And when Jesus took on the wound of our separation from God, we were restored. The power of God's love is not to be underestimated, because a sacrifice like Jesus' is only done out of genuine and deep love.
Eternity for Today