Today is Good Friday

It was not the cross that held Jesus, it was not the roman nails that held Him to the cross, it was not in the power of the government to kill Him, it was His love for you and I that held Him to that cross.

Choose to recall the price that was paid for the access you have to the God of the universe. The access to mercies that are new every morning and the well of grace that will never run dry.

Allow that sacrifice to humble you today and seek to be more like Jesus when He surrendered to the will of God, “not my will but thine be done”.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30

It is God’s grace that has brought us into a saving relationship with Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

As believers, we recognize that Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross was much more than a terrible miscarriage of justice and the murder of a good and decent man.

Jesus is God’s wisdom, a wisdom to convince us of His love.

Jesus is our righteousness; taking our sins upon himself He made us righteous.

Jesus is our ongoing holiness. His blood cleanses us at the beginning and continues to do so today.

Jesus is our holiness; His death means our righteousness.

Jesus is our ransom payment, redeeming us from sin and death.

Jesus is our everything! That makes today a great Friday!

My Prayer…

Almighty and Abba God, thank you for your holiness and righteousness. Thank you for your gracious forgiveness. Thank you for the living example of Jesus. Thank you for the sacrificial example of Jesus. Mold in me a heart like your Son’s heart. Help me to surrender to your will, not mine. Make from me a more usable vessel for your Kingdom work. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

GOOD FRIDAY

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

As you may know, today is “Good Friday.” It is the day that we remember when Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. But why call the day of Jesus’ death “Good Friday” instead of “Bad Friday” or something similar? After all, this marks the darkest day the world has ever known.

Yet as terrible as it was, it really is “good,” because, through the suffering and death of Jesus, this day marks the dramatic culmination of God’s plan to save His people from their sins.

In the same way, Good Friday is “good” because it had to happen for us to receive the joy of Easter. The wrath of God against sin had to be poured out on Jesus, the perfect sacrificial substitute, in order for forgiveness and salvation to be poured out to the nations.

Without that awful day of suffering, sorrow, and shed blood at the cross, God could not be both “just and the justifier” of those who trust in Jesus.

In other words, today is “Good Friday” because of the “Good News of Jesus Christ!” Which means it’s more that “Good Friday.” It’s “Great Friday!”

Becoming A Keeper

In Hebrew, policemen are called ‘shomreem.’ In ancient times the guards were also called the ‘shomreem.’ Shomreem comes from the word ‘shomair,’ which means to ‘keep.’ It’s a real important word in the Bible.

The Lord is called ‘Shomair Yisrael,’ the Keeper of Israel. Yet the word isn’t just for the Lord. It says in God’s word… ‘You will be blessed if you shomair. It’s important to keep.

Keep the covenant. the command, keep My way, keep My word, keep My Torah… keep. It’s all a matter of keeping.

It’s written, we have this treasure in earthen vessels. It’s not enough to have a treasure. A treasure must be watched, treasured. A treasure must be kept. It’s written that Miryam, Mary, kept all these things in her heart.

If you want to live a life that is precious you must do the same. Become one of God’s shomreem. Become a keeper. Keep His word in your mind, His love in your heart, His wonders in your testimony, His presence in your Spirit. Learn to be a keeper. For what God has given you… is for keeps.