Only Through the Cross - Max Lucado

“We have freedom now, because Christ made us free.” Galatians 5:1

Some teach that we earn God’s favor by what we know (intellectualism). Others insist we are saved by what we do (moralism). Still others that salvation is determined by what we feel (emotionalism).

 However you package it, Paul contests, . . . salvation comes only through the cross—no additions, no alterations.

SECOND BIRTH - MAX LUCADO

“God is being patient with you . . . He wants all people to change their hearts and lives.” 2 Peter 3:9

In many ways your new birth is like your first: In your new birth God provides what you need; someone else feels the pain, and someone else does the work. And just as parents are patient with their newborn, so God is patient with you. But there is one difference. The first time you had no choice about being born; this time you do. The power is God’s. The effort is God’s. The pain is God’s. But the choice is yours.

ADOPTED - MAX LUCADO

Serve only the Lord your God. Respect him, keep his commands, and obey him.” Deuteronomy 13:4

Christ’s kingdom is . . . a kingdom where membership is granted, not purchased. You are placed into God’s kingdom. You are “adopted.” And this occurs not when you do enough, but when you simply admit you can’t do enough. You don’t earn it; you simply accept it. As a result, you serve, not out of arrogance or fear, but out of gratitude.

It May Not Be Easy

“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and sat down again.” John 13:12

Please note, he finished washing their feet.

That means he left no one out . . . He washed the feet of Judas. Jesus washed the feet of his betrayer. He gave this traitor equal attention. In just a few hours Judas’ feet would guide the Roman guard to Jesus. But at this moment they are caressed by Christ . . .

That’s not to say it was easy . . . That is to say that God will never call you to do what he hasn’t already done.

Let Us Wait - Max Lucado

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief.” 2 Peter 3:10

Paul says “we are hoping for something we do not have yet, and we are waiting for it patiently” (Romans 8:25).

Peter tells us: “You should live holy lives and serve God, as you wait for and look forward to the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11-12).

Hope of the future is not a license for irresponsibility in the present. Let us wait forwardly, but let us wait.

Not Yet Complete - Max Lucado

“God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished.” Philippians 1:6

Not only are we ignorant about yesterday, we are ignorant about tomorrow. Dare we judge a book while chapters are yet unwritten? . . . How can you dismiss a soul until God’s work is complete?

Be careful! The Peter who denies Jesus at tonight’s fire may proclaim him with fire at tomorrow’s Pentecost . . . A stammering shepherd in this generation may be the mighty Moses of the next.

No Matter What - Max Lucado

“Nothing above us, nothing below us, not anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:39

No matter what you do, no matter how far you fall, no matter how ugly you become, God has a relentless, undying, unfathomable, unquenchable love from which you cannot be separated. Ever!

Christ Claims You - Max Lucado

“The LORD won’t leave his people nor give up his children.” Psalm 94:14
 When everyone else rejects you, Christ accepts you. When everyone else leaves you, Christ finds you. When no one else wants you, Christ claims you. When no one else will give you the time of day, Jesus will give you the words of eternity . . .


What is the work of God? Accepting people . . . Caring before condemning.

Such Love - Max Lucado

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34, NIV

How Jesus, with a body wracked with pain, eyes blinded by his own blood, and lungs yearning for air, could speak on behalf of some heartless thugs is beyond my comprehension. Never, never have I seen such love. If ever a person deserved a shot at revenge, Jesus did. But he didn’t take it. Instead he died for them. How could he do it? I don’t know. But I do know that all of a sudden my wounds seem very painless. My grudges and hard feelings are suddenly childish.

Quiet Kindness - Max Lucado

“When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it.” Galatians 6:10

Kind hearts are quietly kind. They let the car cut into traffic and the young mom with three kids move up in the checkout line.

They pick up the neighbor’s trash can that rolled into the street. And they are especially kind at church. They understand that perhaps the neediest person they’ll meet all week is the one standing in the foyer or sitting on the row behind them in worship.

Never More Human - Max Lucado

“He poured out His soul unto death.” Isaiah 53:12 NKJV

The scene is very simple; you’ll recognize it quickly. A grove of twisted olive trees. Ground cluttered with large rocks. A low stone fence. A dark, dark night . . .

See that solitary figure? . . . Flat on the ground. Face stained with dirt and tears. Fists pounding the hard earth . . .

That’s Jesus . . . God was never more human than at this hour. God was never nearer to us than when he hurt.

He Knows What You Need - Max Lucado

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 NLT

How did Jesus endure the terror of the crucifixion? He went first to the Father with his fears.

Do the same with yours. Don’t avoid life’s Gardens of Gethsemane. Enter them. Just don’t enter them alone. And while there, be honest. Pounding the ground is permitted. Tears are allowed . . .

And be specific . . . He knows what you need.

Works Matter - Max Lucado

“If people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them?” James 2:14

James’ message is bare-knuckled; his style is bare-boned. Talk is cheap, he argues. Service is invaluable.

It’s not that works save the Christian, but that works mark the Christian. In James’ book of logic, it only makes sense that we who have been given much should give much. Not just with words. But with our lives.

His Love Is Not Normal - Max Lucado

“Your love, God, is my song, and I’ll sing it!” Psalm 89:1, The Message

God’s love is not human. His love is not normal. His love sees your sin and loves you still. Does he approve of your error? No.

Do you need to repent? Yes. But do you repent for his sake or yours? Yours. His ego needs no apology. His love needs no bolstering.

And he could not love you more than he does right now.

No More Pain - Max Lucado

“There will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone.” Revelation 21:4
Folks, if you’re expecting to be given a fair shake in your life, forget it! You won’t be. You’re going to face illness. And your body is going to wear out. You may be the victim of someone else’s mistake. But you can get through those tough times if you prepare your heart now, living to know and serve the Savior who loves you and died so that you might have an eternal home free of pain and sorrow.

A Good Friend - Max Lucado

“The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends.” John 15:13

I like John most for the way he loved Jesus. His relationship with Jesus was, . . . simple. To John, Jesus was a good friend with a good heart and a good idea . . .

One gets the impression that to John, Jesus was above all a loyal companion. Messiah? Yes. Son of God? Indeed. Miracle worker? That, too. But more than anything . . . Jesus was a friend.

Being Made Perfect - Max Lucado

“With one sacrifice he made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14


Underline the word perfect. Note that the word is not better. Not improving. Not on the upswing. God doesn’t improve; he perfects. He doesn’t enhance; he completes . . .


When he sees each of us, he sees one who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect—Jesus Christ.

A Great Gift - Max Lucado

"I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the LORD Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18 NKJV

God did what we wouldn’t dare dream. He did what we couldn’t imagine. He became a man so we could trust Him. He became a sacrifice so we could know Him. And He defeated death so we could follow Him . . .

Only a Creator beyond the fence of logic could offer such a gift of love.

It’s Not What You Do - Max Lucado

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ.” Romans 8:1 NIV


There is never a point at which you are any less saved than you were the first moment Christ saved you. Just because you were grumpy at breakfast doesn’t mean you were condemned at breakfast. When you lost your temper yesterday, you didn’t lose your salvation. Your name doesn’t disappear and reappear in the book of life according to your moods and actions . . .


You are saved, not because of what you do, but because of what Christ did.

A Safe Place - Max Lucado

“They knew nothing about what was happening until the flood came and destroyed them. It will be the same when the Son of Man comes.” Matthew 24:39


Noah was sent to save the faithful. Christ was sent to do the same. A flood of water came then. A flood of fire will come next. Noah built a safe place out of wood. Jesus made a safe place with the cross. Those who believed hid in the ark. Those who believe are hidden in Christ.