Friday, April 10, 2009

The thing we do not want to do

Today’s Reading: John 21:19 (NIV)

19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to Him, “Follow me!”

Good morning!

Jesus often calls us to do the things that we do not want to do. His life, death and resurrection is the living example we long to see working in our lives today. As we grow up in grace, we begin to understand that suffering is a part of life. I have come to appreciate my scars through the years, because they represent one more area iwhere the Lord has worked His healing power in me.

There is nothing fair about Good Friday. We see the Holy One physically and emotionally abused. As the Soldiers carried out the death sentence in a most vicious and cruel fashion, Christ loved them and forgave them for their actions. All of us are responsible for the actions at Calvary. It wasn’t just the people who came to place judgment, or the verdict of the High Priest, or the money that changed hands in the betrayal. We must hold ourselves responsible. Every time we turn a deaf ear to God’s Holy Word, it is as if we are wielding the hammer and plunging the nails into Christ’s flesh.

He died for the world. He died for the people who were lost and living in ignorance. He died for you and He died for me. But it doesn’t stop there. His earthly mission may have been finished that day when Jesus breathed his last and gave His spirit up to the Father. Jesus did an amazing, miraculous thing in the three days that followed. He literally conquered sin and death forever. His perfect sacrifice freed the sin sick souls of all who would believe and receive Him into their hearts. This is the Easter message we carry into the world today.

I am doing something this morning that I would rather not do. I believe it is a bigger part of God’s healing mercy in my life and I am looking for an amazing healing miracle in just three days. Walk with me through this Good Friday observance, and remember the lengths Jesus Christ went to save you from your sin. Make time today to repent, confess and believe!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

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© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

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