One by one the sweat drips down my reddened face. Tears well up from the nearby smoke up the flames ablaze. My hands ache and the blisters begin to bleed. Another thorn has slashed my leg and pierced through my shoe.
Take a break. This echoes through the air and pierces my skin like an arrow. I cannot. I will not. He deserves to rest, is all I can muster up in my mind. I press through. I will endure the sweat, blood and pierced skin. I am here to serve. I am here to give.
As I rake through the thorns one after one, each one piercing a new part of my flesh, I am reminded of our King. How He endured a crown of thorns. How He took it upon Himself to carry our burdens. To love us unconditionally. To serve us in ways we could never live up to.
Each day I strive to be more like Him. I want to serve His people. I want to love unconditionally. I want to be His light for others. Some days this may look like preaching, teaching, cooking, gardening, praying for the sick and evangelizing on the streets. Or some days it may look like giving this 18 year old boy a break from His obedient heart and saying “Let me serve you how our Father would serve you”. I could have easily passed on the rake and sat down. I could have easily needed to go “take” care of myself. Instead I chose to press through and look to my Strengthener. I chose to put him before the needs of myself.
We were put first that day on the cross. He gave it all. He gave every drop of sweat, every ounce of blood, and pierced His skin for US. He doesn’t give us part of Him. He gives us all of Him.
