Preparing

It's weird to look back on life.

All last week, I kept getting visions of this time last year, preparing my heart for Easter, and just the things that were going on in my life at that point. There were many things last year that I chose not to share on this blog, for someone else's or my own privacy. My family was going through a lot of different trials, I was going through a lot of stuff, and so were many of my friends. Yet, I was clinging to my Savior like no other, because I knew He was the only one who could keep me grounded and sane.

We talked at church on Sunday about why Jesus had to die. Our pastor presented the Gospel: the fact that our sin kept us separated from God, and the only way to get rid of that sin was for blood to be shed...and it had to be the blood of someone perfect, someone without sin.

As many times as I've heard that in my life, I couldn't help but listen a little more intently and pay a little bit more attention. I lose sight of Jesus a lot. I lose sight of what He really did on that cross, of what it means for me personally, and for what it means for you. I take advantage of it...I do my own thing way too much. I focus on the things that matter to me instead of on the things that matter to Him. I ignore the promptings to read my Bible because watching a show on TV sounds like more fun. I turn my nose up at the people I pass by instead of taking the time to really look at them and love them, because Jesus loves them. I am pretty darn selfish.

But on Sunday, I let it all sink in. Jesus, who had never been separated from His Father, who had never known sin, who had never experienced that immense amount of pain...went through a horrible HORRIBLE death, took on my sin as if it was His own, and paid the debt for every awful thing I have done and ever will do.

I wish I didn't lose sight of that. I wish I didn't pull my eyes away from Jesus so often. I wish my heart was pure and clean all the time. But thankfully, I have a Savior who loves me in spite of all that.

I don't know where your heart is this week. Maybe you're getting caught up in the busyness and the family celebrations (I know I have). Or maybe you haven't even thought about it much. Wherever you're at, my prayer is that you will take the time to remember what Jesus did for you and allow it to really sink in.

Be blessed!