Sitting in my favorite reading chair I am looking out the window at a dreary and dark day. The rain is coming in sideways and ever so often I hear a rumble of thunder. Three of my children are still asleep, as spring break as begun and the one kid who is up is deep in rainy day activity mode as she builds a fort out of blankets and living room furniture for Mary, our crosseyed cat. It’s Good Friday and as I sit here thinking about how to express my heart of gratitude toward my Savior, my eyes tear up in thankfulness for what Jesus endured for me. Jesus faced every sin and shame for me. Jesus faced every stripe that came beating down on His back for me. Jesus faced every sickness and disease for me. Jesus faced every sorrow and heartbreak for me. Jesus faced every fear and torment for me. Jesus faced all the worries and cares of this world for me. Jesus went face to face with every attack of Satan for me.
Take a moment and picture what you’ve been facing lately. It may be dark and dreary and simply overwhelming. Sin is suffocating you and you don’t know how to break free. Or possibly you’ve simply stopped looking to Jesus as the source of your life. It could be your focus is more on the cares and worries of this world and not on the price that was paid for you. The precious blood of Jesus paid for our freedom from sin so that we can live unto righteousness and have a relationship with our Heavenly Father as His child. Jesus faced every thing you are facing today and He defeated it on the cross. Good Friday is a hard day, but it’s a good day because of God’s goodness toward us.
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:16-17)
Jesus never took His eyes off of God’s plan of redemption. Jesus never took His eyes off of God’s love for you. Jesus never took His eyes off of you.
Jesus not only faced death, hell and the grave, but He conquered death, hell and the grave just for you.
Take time today on this Good Friday to thank God for Jesus. Thank Him for sending His Son for your sins to be washed clean. Thank Him for making you a new creation in Christ and that your old self is dead and you are alive in Jesus. Thank Him for His mercy and His loving kindness that is new every day of your life. Thank Him for His faithfulness in your life and that His grace and never-ending favor is seeing you through. Thank Him for loving you and restoring you and your family. Thank Him for hearing your prayers in the Mighty name of Jesus. Thank Him for healing you and setting you free from the fear of death. Thank Him for His provision in your life. Thank Him for never leaving you or forsaking you. Thank Him for setting you free from shame and condemnation. Thank Him for calling you and giving you a Heavenly Assignment to grow the Kingdom of God. Begin this Easter weekend with a heart of gratitude towards the Lord and focus your eyes on Jesus, He is the originator and the perfecter of your faith in God.
12 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB
We are saved by faith through God’s grace. If you haven’t prayed the prayer of salvation and made Jesus Lord over your life. Today is your day! Salvation is a free gift for all and it was paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. God’s plan of redemption is for you. There is no sin or shame so deep or sorrowful that Jesus can’t forgive or heal.
How do we receive salvation? God’s Word gives us instruction that it’s believing in our heart that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that He rose from the grave for our salvation. What we believe, we then confess. We repent for our sins and we ask Jesus to forgive us and to be our Lord and Savior.
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:8-10 NASB
Prayer of Salvation
Heavenly Father, I love You and I thank You for loving me. Thank You for sending your Son Jesus to die on the cross for all of my sins. I believe in my heart that Jesus died and He rose again so that I can be saved. Forgive me from my sins. Jesus, I receive You as my Lord and Savior. I am a new creation in Christ and a child of God. Thank You Lord for saving me! Lord, I receive every good gift that you have for me in Jesus name, Amen.