The Cross Makes Prayer Possible
By Rick Warren
"Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?" Romans 8:32 (NLT)
Because God is always good, he puts your good even above his own.
This is the Good News—that the King sacrifices himself for his people. In fairy tales, everybody dies for the king and protects the king at all costs. There's only one story in the world where the King dies for his people. It's called the Gospel.
Christianity is marked by a unique storyline, different from every other religion in the world. God says you've sinned and deserve punishment. But that’s not the end of the story. Hope is found in Romans 6:23, where the Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV).
This means, because God is just, somebody must pay for your sin. But because he is a good and holy God and he loves you, he made a plan to save you. He came to Earth as the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and died for your sins. This is the ultimate expression of love—the King dying for his people, the Shepherd dying for his sheep.
Nobody has ever offered to pay for your sins—except God. Jesus didn’t die on the cross because of the Roman government. He died because of love. He loved you so much that he was willing to die for you, because he is a good and merciful God.
What God did for you at the cross makes prayer possible.
"Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?" (Romans 8:32 NLT)
When Jesus Christ died for you on the cross, he solved your biggest problem. Any other problem you have in your life is small to him! If God loved you enough to die for you, in his goodness, don't you think he loves you enough to help you with your bills and your health and your relationships? Nothing is too big for God. But also, nothing you care about is too small to talk to him about.
There is nothing you can't bring to God in prayer. He loved you enough to die for you, and he loves you enough to answer your prayers.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Be Encouraged Each Day to Live Out God’s Purposes
As thanks for your gift below to help share the gospel with more people around the world through Daily Hope, we’ll send you Pastor Rick’s new book, Daily Hope Devotional: 365 Days of Purpose, Peace, and Promise.
Each devotional starts out with a Bible verse, followed by teaching that explains God’s Word and shows you how to apply it daily so you can face any challenge and live the life you were created to live.
As a special bonus when you give, we’ll also send you What's Driving Your Life?: A 10-Day Turnaround for a Fresh Start. Featuring 10 hand-picked devotions from Pastor Rick’s new book, they’ll guide anyone feeling stressed, worried, or discouraged toward seeking God for a fresh start.
Request your copy below when you give—and take the first step towards a year of real purpose, lasting peace, and unfailing promises.
Thank you for your partnership!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.