THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT THE CROSS “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” —Luke 14:33 I heard a story about a couple who visited a jewelry store. As the jeweler showed them various crosses, the woman commented, “I like these, but do you have any without this little man on them?” That’s what many people want today: a cross without Jesus. They want a cross without any offense—one that will look cool with their outfits. But the hard truth is that if we could travel back in time and see the cross in its original context, we would realize that it was a bloody and vile symbol. It would have been the worst picture imaginable to see someone hanging on a cross. The Romans chose crucifixion because it was meant to be a slow, torturous way to die. It was designed to humiliate a person. The crucifixions outside Roman cities served as warnings to anyone who would dare oppose the rule of Rome. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT). In other words, salvation and eternal life can be found only through Him. Many people today object to His words. They see John 14:6 as a statement of exclusivity and narrow-mindedness. But Jesus was simply explaining God’s plan of salvation. Humankind’s decision to disobey God and pursue sin created an existential crisis with only one solution. To satisfy God’s perfect justice and wrath, a perfect sacrifice had to be offered in our place. Someone who had never sinned had to die in the place of everyone else who had. Only Jesus lived a sinless life. Only He had the power to conquer death. So, only He could save us. If there had been any other way, do you think that God would have allowed His Son to suffer like that? If there had been any other way that we could have been forgiven, then God surely would have found it. Jesus Himself prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39 NLT). He was talking about the cross and the unimaginable suffering that lay ahead. But God did not take it away from Him because there was no other way. If living a good, moral life could get us to Heaven, then Jesus never would have died for us. But He did die. He had to pay the price for our sin. At the cross, Jesus purchased the salvation of the world. If you ever were tempted to doubt God’s love for you, even for a moment, then take a long, hard look at the cross. Nails did not hold Jesus to that cross; His love did. God bless you!

(long post ahead📖) There is a profound lesson I learned when I read this passage of Scripture: “said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭14‬-‭15‬, ‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬ This passage takes place during Jesus’ trial. He was falsely accused of many things, yet we know that He was completely innocent. He had no sin. Everything He taught was truth, and everything He did, reflected the will of the Father. Jesus could have defended Himself. After all, He possessed the very nature of God. He had every power and every right to prove His innocence. Yet He chose to remain silent and willingly submit Himself to the Father’s plan. Even Pilate declared before the crowd that he could find no fault in Jesus. Herod found no crime worthy of death either. Still, the people refused to listen. Instead, they shouted louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified. This reminds me of a sobering reality: 😔 Even if God Himself stands before people and speaks the truth, there will still be hearts that choose not to believe. Miracles, truth, and evidence alone cannot change a heart that refuses to surrender. Then came the moment of decision. The people were given a choice: ❓❓Jesus Christ or Barabbas. ❓❓ One was completely innocent. The other was a guilty criminal. Yet the crowd cried out for Barabbas to be released, while demanding that Jesus be condemned to die. 😢 As I reflected on this, something deeply touched my heart. I realized that Barabbas is a picture of us. We are the guilty ones. ✅ We are the sinners. ✅ Yet Jesus took our place. The punishment that should have fallen upon us was placed upon Him instead. The Son of God willingly exchanged His freedom for ours. He left the glory of heaven and humbled Himself to be born in a manger. Though He is the King of kings, He did not come to be served but to serve. He walked among the poor, healed the sick, showed mercy to sinners, comforted the brokenhearted, and lived a life of perfect holiness without sin. Finally, He gave His life on the cross. ✝️ The release of Barabbas beautifully illustrates the Gospel. Barabbas deserved the cross. Jesus did not. Yet Jesus took the cross that belonged to Barabbas. In the same way, we deserve the punishment for our sins…..eternal separation from God. But Jesus took our place. (Inangkin Niya ang ating mga kasalanan at pinasan Niya ang kaparusahang nararapat para sa atin upang tayo ay maligtas.) That is the greatest picture of God’s mercy. And above all, that is the greatest picture of love. It was never the nails that kept Jesus on the cross. 🙏🏻 It was His immeasurable, unconditional, and unfailing love for us. 💚💚💚 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) (HAVE A NICE DAY PIP’z) 😇

Dear Father, Edmund Gettier, a philosopher, proposed an addition to the concept of epistemology-- the study of knowledge, when he argued that a person can believe something without knowing it, but no one can claim to know something without believing it. How true is this of humanity? There is also a branch of epistemology called empiricism, which supports the idea that the most reliable source of human knowledge is experience or sensory perceptions. My problem with this view is that it limits the truth of humanity’s existence to what is attainable in his lifetime. I was reminded of Thomas, who, when the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” responded, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” The issue, however, lies not in the limitations that exist in obtaining the experience needed for an unwavering belief in You, but in how willing we are to pay the price to know what we have always believed. It is true that many of us are like Thomas, with certain doubts and confusions, believing in Jesus but not all that He purports to represent. Perhaps this is what Edmund communicates: that there is a risk in believing when sufficient knowledge is lacking. Isn’t this one of the reasons we struggle with our faith? Isn’t this the reason we doubt-- asking questions without necessarily seeking answers? Today, I took it upon myself to reflect on how much I have put into knowing all that I believe about You. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindi Slide 5: Urdu Slide 6: Portuguese #LettertoGod #believe #knowledge #doubt #Thomasstory

Dear Father, Edmund Gettier, a philosopher, proposed an addition to the concept of epistemology-- the study of knowledge, when he argued that a person can believe something without knowing it, but no one can claim to know something without believing it. How true is this of humanity? There is also a branch of epistemology called empiricism, which supports the idea that the most reliable source of human knowledge is experience or sensory perceptions. My problem with this view is that it limits the truth of humanity’s existence to what is attainable in his lifetime. I was reminded of Thomas, who, when the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” responded, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” The issue, however, lies not in the limitations that exist in obtaining the experience needed for an unwavering belief in You, but in how willing we are to pay the price to know what we have always believed. It is true that many of us are like Thomas, with certain doubts and confusions, believing in Jesus but not all that He purports to represent. Perhaps this is what Edmund communicates: that there is a risk in believing when sufficient knowledge is lacking. Isn’t this one of the reasons we struggle with our faith? Isn’t this the reason we doubt-- asking questions without necessarily seeking answers? Today, I took it upon myself to reflect on how much I have put into knowing all that I believe about You. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindi Slide 5: Urdu Slide 6: Portuguese #LettertoGod #believe #knowledge #doubt #Thomasstory

Revelation 4:1-11 describes a vision of Yochanon (John) who received a revelation of the heavenly Throne Room. It describes a scene where the twenty four Elders cast they’re crowns before the throne declaring the Creators Supreme authority and glory over all creation. #verseoftheday #commentary #bible #endtimes #revelations This scripture nails “Mother Nature” in her coffin where she belongs! Let’s get into it. https://nucreature.org/revelation-4-see-the-unveiling-of-the-throne-room/

This Week's Prayer Guide August 9 - This week, pray for the needs of the people of Suzhou. Pray for the church to be a Christlike witness to their friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members. August 10 - In recent years, many foreign and even domestic manufacturers have left Suzhou and its nearby development areas, leaving behind an economic void. Please pray that God will help revive Suzhou’s economy and provide for the economic needs of its people. August 11 - The departure of these companies and factories have led to a rise in unemployment, particularly among the young people. Many of them are steeped in a sense of hopelessness and feel like giving up. Please pray that the young people in the city can find a hope that is not based on career success, but in Christ. August 12 - Like many other cities in China, the economic downturn inevitably leads to population loss. Many young people have migrated to other cities or other parts of Suzhou to seek employment, making some less developed neighborhoods feeling empty. Please pray that God will bring revival to these neighborhoods, both economically and spiritually. August 13 - Population loss is also leading to shepherding challenges. People come and go according to their economic and employment needs, leaving pastors and church leaders feeling destabilized. Please pray that God will provide local churches with a stable core group of people, and that church leaders can know their sheep deeply. August 14 - One silver lining of the economic downturn is that young professionals are working less and thus have weekends open, and they are able to participate in Sunday worship more regularly. May the Lord refresh the souls of these young professionals through worship and church community, and alleviate their anxiety about their future. August 15 - One of the local churches in Suzhou recognized the opportunity to reach out to the elderly in the city. Volunteers divide into teams to cut hair, trim nails, visit and pray with the elderly. Please pray that they will encounter more opportunities to share the gospel, and that God will bring many elderly to faith through their work. 8月9日——本周，请为苏州人民的需要祷告。请祷告，愿教会能像基督一样，在他们的朋友、邻居、同事和家人面前作见证。 8月10日——近年来，许多外资甚至中资企业相继撤离苏州及其周边开发区，留下了经济上的空虚。请祷告，求神帮助振兴苏州的经济，并满足当地民众的经济需求。 8月11日——这些公司和工厂的撤离导致失业率上升，尤其是年轻人中的失业率。他们中许多人深陷绝望之中，甚至在家里躺平。请为这座城市的年轻人祷告，愿他们能将未来的希望建立在基督之上，而不在事业当中。 8月12日——与中国许多其他城市一样，经济低迷不可避免地导致人口流失。许多年轻人为了谋生，迁移到了其他城市或苏州的其他地区，使得一些社区显得冷清。请为这些社区祷告，求神在经济和属灵两方面都赐下复兴。 8月13日——会众流失也给牧养工作带来了挑战。人们根据经济和就业需求来来去去，使牧师和教会领袖感到不安。请祷告，求神为当地教会预备一个稳定的核心群体，并让教会领袖能深入地认识他们的羊群。 8月14日——经济低迷带来的一线希望是，年轻职场人士的工作时间减少了，因此周末有空闲能够更规律地参加周日礼拜。愿主通过敬拜和教会团契，使这些年轻职场人士的灵魂得到更新，并缓解他们对未来的焦虑。 8月15日——苏州当地的一间教会意识到向市老年人传福音的机会。志愿者们分成小组，为老年人理发、修剪指甲，探访他们、与他们一同祷告。请为他们祷告，愿他们能遇到更多分享福音的机会，也愿神通过他们的工作带领许多老年人信主。 Join us on Zoom this Thursday from 10:30am-11:00am EST for our weekly prayer call as we pray for Chinese churches in Suzhou. Click here to open the Zoom link. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86248059041 Meeting ID: 862 4805 9041

THE CALVARY MINISTRY - ONLINE THE CROSS OF CALVARY 🙏🏼 FRIDAY 1ST AUGUST, 2026 📜 🔑📖 KEY VERSE:``` "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (COLOSSIANS 2:14). At Calvary, God did not just forgive sin; He cancelled the record. The handwriting of ordinances — the law’s demands, the devil’s accusations, every debt we owed — stood against us. It was contrary to us. We could never pay it. But Jesus took that document that condemned us and nailed it to His Cross. The nails that pierced His hands pierced our indictment. What was against us is now gone. Three truths from the cancelled record: One, the debt was against us. “The handwriting of ordinances that was against us.” Sin left a paper trail. Every sin, every failure, every broken law. Heaven had a record and we were guilty. Two, the debt was contrary to us. “Which was contrary to us.” It opposed us, blocked us, condemned us. We could not climb over it. Three, the debt was nailed to His Cross. “And took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” God took it out of the way — not overlooked, not hidden, but removed. He nailed it to the Cross. And when He did, He spoiled principalities and powers, making a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it (verse 15). Your accusers were disarmed at Calvary. Is the enemy bringing up your past this morning? Remind him of the Cross. The record he is reading from was nailed, cancelled, blotted out. There is no longer any handwriting against you — only the blood that speaks better things. Prayer Father, thank You for nailing my sins, my debts, and my accusations to the Cross of Christ. Today I declare I am no longer condemned. The handwriting that was against me is blotted out by blood. Let every voice of accusation be silenced, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. May the Lord cause you to walk in the liberty of a cancelled record today. May every accusation be silenced, may every chain be broken, and may you live as one whose debt has been fully paid at Calvary, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏼

# When Heaven Wanted to Say "I Love You" If Heaven wanted to tell the world, **"I love you,"** it could have written those words across every star. It could have carved them into every mountain. It could have thundered them from the clouds. But God chose a different way. He sent Jesus. Not with a sword... But with compassion. Not to condemn... But to save. Not to take lives... But to give His own. Jesus walked among people who were broken, forgotten, and weary. He sat beside those everyone else ignored. He touched those everyone else avoided. He listened to those no one else had time for. He loved people exactly where they were... But He loved them too much to leave them there. When children ran to Him, He welcomed them. When sinners cried before Him, He forgave them. When the sick reached out, He healed them. When the hungry followed Him, He fed them. His heart was never too busy for one more hurting soul. Then came the cross. The moment when love would speak louder than words ever could. As the nails pierced His hands, He did not pull them away. As the crowd mocked Him, He did not answer with hatred. As His strength faded, His love remained unshaken. Because Jesus knew that beyond the pain of the cross... There would be the joy of redeeming countless lives. Yours. Mine. Everyone who would believe in Him. The cross was not the end of love. It was love at its fullest. And when the tomb was found empty on the third day, God declared to the world that love is stronger than death, grace is greater than sin, and hope can never be buried. Today, Jesus still walks beside the lonely. He still comforts the grieving. He still strengthens the weak. He still forgives those who return to Him. His love has never grown weaker. His mercy has never run out. His arms have never closed. If you ever wonder whether you are loved, don't look at the changing opinions of people. Look at Jesus. Look at His life. Look at His cross. Look at His empty tomb. There you will find a love that has no beginning and no end. A love that cannot be earned. A love that cannot be lost. A love that will never stop calling your name. **The greatest message Heaven ever sent was not written on paper.** **It was written in the life, the sacrifice, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.** **And that message still echoes today:** **"You are loved more deeply than you will ever know."** *"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." — John 3:16*

Daily devotion: Luke 23:34 “Jesus said, ‘Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they’ re doing.” Forgiveness, something which many people struggle with. But I want you to consider this. Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, was tortured by the Romans. He was rejected by His own people who chose the murderer, Barabbas, to be released from prison instead of the innocent Jesus. While carrying His cross to Golgotha, people spit on His bleeding body. People cheered as nails were driven through His wrists and feet. He was mocked by all when the Roman soldiers hung a message, written on wood, over His thorn crowned head. The message read: “This is the King of the Jews.” (Luke 23:38) Jesus did nothing wrong, yet He suffered unspeakable torment. Despite all of this, the injustice of crucifying and innocent man, the horrifying flogging that tore His skin open, the abandonment by His own people. Despite ALL this He still asked God to forgive these people. Even at the end He remained compassionate and empathetic. Now, look at your own life. What pain and sorrow, inflicted by others, do you carry with you? This hurt drags you down and fills you with feelings of regret, dislike and even hate and revenge. Can you see how events that occurred years ago are kept fresh in your mind? You turn it over and over in your mind like a dark jewel. However, compared to what Jesus went through, our own cares, worries and pain seem so small. We need to remember that Jesus forgave those who harmed Him. Let us learn from Him and and feel the peace that forgiveness brings. Pray for those who hurt you instead of nurturing negative thoughts. (Luke 6:28) I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive and let go of those who hurt you. Setting them free will leave room for the Light of God to shine brightly in your life. #Scripture #Forgiveness #Luke23 #DailyDevotion

THE CALVARY MINISTRY - ONLINE THE CROSS OF CALVARY 🙏🏼 MONDAY 27TH JULY, 2026 📜 🔑📖 KEY VERSE:``` "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (HEBREWS 12:2). Hebrews 12 tells us to look. The Christian race is not run by looking at ourselves, our failures, or even the crowd around us. It is run by “looking unto Jesus.” What did He look at when He carried the Cross? Joy. “For the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” What joy? The joy of bringing you home. The joy of turning sinners into sons. For that joy, He endured the nails, He despised the shame, He drank the cup. Three truths from looking unto Jesus: One, He endured what you could not endure. “Endured the cross.” Endure means to hold under the weight and not break. The weight of your sin, your punishment, your curse — He held it and did not break. Two, He despised what shamed you. “Despising the shame.” Crucifixion was the most shameful death. He was stripped, mocked, numbered with criminals. He took your shame so you could have His glory. Three, He finished what you could not finish. “The author and finisher of our faith.” He started your salvation and He will finish it. Calvary is not just the beginning of faith; it is the guarantee that He will bring you to the end. Are you weary in running today? Are eyes filled with distractions, discouragements, and disappointments? Lift your eyes again. Look unto Jesus. He who endured the Cross for you will give you strength to run your course. He authored it, He finished it at Calvary, and He will perfect it in you. Prayer Lord Jesus, Author and Finisher of my faith, I turn my eyes from my weakness, my weariness, and my wounds and look unto You. Thank You for enduring the Cross and despising the shame for my joy. Today I receive strength to run, grace to endure, and faith to finish my course, in Your name I pray. Amen. May the Lord fix your eyes on Jesus today. May His endurance strengthen you, may His shame-bearing free you from disgrace, and may His finished work keep you running till the end, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏼