I’ve been fighting a nasty cold the last few days (hence the irregular updates for R3). As I’ve been shuffling along with my achy muscles, taking medicine, and generally being miserable, I began to think about the cross.
That may sound like a strange train of thought, but bear with me for a moment. Sometimes I have a tendency to gloss over what Jesus did for me. “Yeah, yeah” I want to say, “I know he died for my sins.” But, man, that’s such an understatement! He didn’t just die – he died in a way that is possibly the most vicious method man has invented to kill someone. God chose to die a painful, humiliating (crucification was for criminals), and slow death. Just so we could be saved.
That’s all pretty shocking to think about, and it makes me a little uncomfortable. Especially because I get pretty grumpy when I’m sick. I tend to snap, and be rude towards people who are just trying to help me. I tell myself that I’m not a ‘people person’ when I’m sick. As if that somehow justifies my behavior.
So each time I’ve reached for my medicine I’ve been reminded that God suffered for me (and you). And he did it without Tylenol. The bottom line is my suffering is nothing compared to what he went through. I don’t have much excuse for being mean while I’m sick if I want to follow the example God set. If God loved us so much that he sacrificed his own son, then I can at least smile at people when I’m at the store picking up more Kleenex.
I believe God can use any circumstance to teach us something. For me I now have a better appreciation for what God did for me. So now, instead of being sick, I find I’m also grateful. Grateful for God’s salvation, and grateful for modern chemistry!
