Max Lucado devotional

[Hoosierbuck]

This is a good one, too.

HB

The UpWords Weekly Email Devotional

> http://MaxLucado.com/email/

>

> __________________________

> HE DID IT JUST FOR YOU

> by Max Lucado

>

> When God entered time and became a man, he who was boundless became bound.

> Imprisoned in flesh. Restricted by weary-prone muscles and eyelids. For

> more than three decades, his once limitless reach would be limited to the

> stretch of an arm, his speed checked to the pace of human feet.

>

> I wonder, was he ever tempted to reclaim his boundlessness? In the middle

> of a long trip, did he ever consider transporting himself to the next

> city? When the rain chilled his bones, was he tempted to change the

> weather? When the heat parched his lips, did he give thought to popping

> over to the Caribbean for some refreshment?

>

> If ever he entertained such thoughts, he never gave in to them. Not once.

> Stop and think about this. Not once did Christ use his supernatural powers

> for personal comfort. With one word he could've transformed the hard earth

> into a soft bed, but he didn't. With a wave of his hand, he could've

> boomeranged the spit of his accusers back into their faces, but he didn't.

> With an arch of his brow, he could've paralyzed the hand of the soldier as

> he braided the crown of thorns. But he didn't.

>

> Want to know the coolest thing about the coming?

>

> Not that he, in an instant, went from needing nothing to needing air,

> food, a tub of hot water and salts for his tired feet, and, more than

> anything, needing somebody-anybody-who was more concerned about where he

> would spend eternity than where he would spend Friday's paycheck.

>

> Not that he kept his cool while the dozen best friends he ever had felt

> the heat and got out of the kitchen. Or that he gave no command to the

> angels who begged, "Just give the nod, Lord. One word and these demons

> will be deviled eggs."

>

> Not that he refused to defend himself when blamed for every sin since

> Adam. Or that he stood silent as a million guilty verdicts echoed in the

> tribunal of heaven and the giver of light was left in the chill of a

> sinner's night.

>

> Not even that after three days in a dark hole he stepped into the Easter

> sunrise with a smile and a swagger and a question for lowly Lucifer-"Is

> that your best punch?"

>

> That was cool, incredibly cool.

>

> But want to know the coolest thing about the One who gave up the crown of

> heaven for a crown of thorns?

>

> He did it for you. Just for you.

>

> __________________________

> From His Name is Jesus: The Promise of God's Love Fulfilled

> Copyright (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009) Max Lucado