Have you ever had to pay the price for something that you were not RESPONSIBLE for doing? Whether you had a sister or brother that went to your parents and said, “ she did it, he did it”- and this got you in trouble and you had to pay the price that wasn’t yours to pay .; Perhaps your story is something a little bit bigger like some of mine that someone blamed on you.

When I was in elementary school I woke up one morning, HEARING the birds cheeping ad the breeze running through my hair. It felt like the perfect day. I helped my mom do some cooking, which I loved to do. Then we had to go out and check on our cattle. I LOVED spring time of year when all the new baby calves were running around frolicking and having a GREAT OLD TIME. Well we got the cows fed and were headed home. I noticed my dad’s vehicle was setting in the driveway . I didn’t think much of it until he came STORMING over to meet us. He said in an unhappy tone, “Girls which one of you carved your name into my end table?” I knew it was not me, but for the love of God my Sister told my dad, while lying like a pro, that I had did the dirty deed.

Pure as the SUNLIGHT that had just been on my shoulders the letters “Lee Ann Cramer” were screaming out from the table in a youth like reality. It was no longer a facade, but real letters written across the top of my dad’s end table that no one could deny. The table was brown, and the letters that now shone so BRIGHTLY were in the color yellow. Both my sister and I said we were not the culprit, so guess what? We both got our butts paddled by my dad. We both PAID THE PRICE for hurting the end table: one of us guilty; one of us innocent. I still remember looking over at my sister then and being ANGRY at her. Still today you can see my name on my mom’s furniture. We have friends that drop by that just have to ask the story.

Now as time has gone by and I feel differently. Perhaps I would have taken the spanking for my sister now to keep her from the pain. Back then I did not have the same kind of LOVE for my sister that I do now. Just imagine what kind of love God has for his people.

The above true story reminds me greatly about the Lord. He made the decision to pay the ULTIMATE price. One that he was not responsible for. Can you just feel the weight he had to be carrying on his shoulders. The weight of everyone’s sins for all times. What a heavy load. And to top it he was BLAMELESS.

He also did it out of love, we deserved everything coming to us, but because he Loved us he chose to take each and all BURDENS upon his self. So we did not have to pay for our sins and things we have done wrong. Jesus made it possible for us to go to. Heaven, He is the only way to get there. Isn’’t that a great example of Love.

God so LOVED the World that he gave up his only begotten son, so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) I don’t know about you, but I sure want to follow JESUS as he cared so much about me that he was willing to separate Himself from the father God.

JESUS went to the cross for you and me. He didn’t want anyones sins being able to separate us from the Lord. There were may times on the way to the cross that Jesus could have chosen to run the other way, but he didn’t. He stayed the coarse and now we have eternal life in Him

Join me in praying today,”Thank you Jesus for paying the price that should have been mine to bear.” What You did shows such a great love, one that I cannot even fathom. Though I do not fully understand the depth of your love, I stand before you with a thankful heart. I love you and AMEN.