Casandra Martin

“Jesus did not die just to save you from hell. He paid the price to give you all of heaven.” – Carlos A. Rodriguez

This week Christians around the world turn their eyes to the cross and the empty tomb of Jesus. Easter is a historical reality. The cross was raised. The tomb was empty. Jesus died, and Christians have spent every day since that first Sunday morning spreading the good news that the resurrection is real and He is alive. The cross is a gift. Because of the cross, we can look at the world differently, look at ourselves differently, and look at our past, present, and future differently.

Here are ten gifts that Jesus gives us because of the cross:

1. Grace
2. Courage
3. Access
4. Peace
5. Joy
6. Perspective
7. Purpose
8. Freedom
9. Belonging
10. Life

My Jesus Resolution today is to embrace the gifts of the cross. These gifts are the present reality of Jesus in my life today. The world presses hard to challenge these gifts to my soul. It will tell me that I’m not worth it, the gifts aren’t true, or that I have to earn them to deserve them. The truth is that Jesus died on a cross because He thinks I am worth it. These blessings are more than I can imagine. Each one is a gift, pure and simple. A gift to be enjoyed, savored, and celebrated because of the cross.