Benefits!

Benefits!

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

[9]  But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed].

The cross - that wooden contraption on which Christ was crucified, and on which he made those famous last words: "It is finished" is the secret to all the amazing things that are laid out in today's verse. The cross waw a symbol of sin and shame to the One who was hung up on it; in fact, the word of God says that anyone who is hung upon the tree is cursed. Jesus, the sinless and Holy One took on that challenge, walked in my shoes, took my place in the legal punishment I deserved, and paid the full price for my sin. It is the start point for anything I could ever claim from God. By the cross,,salvation from sin has been secured. By the cross, hope for the future has been secured. There is no other recommendation or channel by which I can lay claim to any of these benefits, except by the cross. If God could allow His own Son to die such a shameful and painful death, what else is there that God will not give? Guess the question then is: "Have I met, known and surrendered to this God"? Does he know me as His own?

For all who have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus, there is an amazing window opened for us. The best mind cannot fathom the depth of the riches of grace now made accessible to all who come to Jesus. No words or experience can match up to the scope of mercy that now makes it possible for me to live a righteous life, and to please God in every way. My limited human mind cannot fully comprehend the reason or the basis of all that God has prepared, both for the earthly present and the eternal future, but as I walk with Him daily, He reveals day by day what His will is. As I obey Him, I grow in my understanding of His will, and the revelation of His purpose. As I thank Him on a daily basis for all the benefits I receive, He makes even more available to me. No man can give me a tiny fraction of what God has already secured for me, so why would I seek man's applause or approval for anything? I have all of this present earthly phase to know as much as I can of God, and the whole of eternity to fully understand the amazing love of God. It is worth looking forward to. What of you? God's time of favour is here.