Limits

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it” (Matt 16:24-25)

It is hard to imagine that it has come to this. It is hard to imagine that life is radically changing yet again. On Saturday, “the German” is headed home.  Festivities have been planned and in the midst of the festivities there is packing. With packing comes decision making. There is a set weight limit over which she cannot go. The limit, once reached, is the limit.

Limits are part of life. Boundaries are necessary.  One of my favorite things about God though is that God is boundless. God’s abilities are limitless. God’s love is without measure.

My love is full of measures. I can love this much but no more.  I can accept this but I cannot accept more than this. I am finite.

How easy it would be to take Jesus’ death on the cross and create a boundary. God would have loved us all but the Jews crucified Jesus so God cannot love them. God would have loved us all but the Native Americans never knew Jesus so they are not granted salvation. God would have loved us all but…

Having a qualifier denotes a limit. God is love. There is no qualifier on that statement.

In my Lenten devotional today’s lesson is called “Our own crosses”.   Accepting these crosses in our lives, the author says, is the key to happiness.  When we refuse to carry our cross, when we sit in angry denial of an uncomfortable or unpleasant situation in our life, we cut ourselves off from full experience of God’s amazing love.

I do not like my crosses. I do love my God and trust that in God there is strength to carry my cross.  I trust that through God’s amazing redemptive power there is hope that my cross will be transformed.

Our German daughter is leaving on Saturday. She is packing her bags and working to stay within the limits. I am working to live in the limitless grace of my Lord and Savior.