In the morning, Jehu came out, stood before the people, and addressed them formally: "Do you realize that this very day you are participants in God's righteous workings?...Know this for certain: Not a single syllable that God spoke in judgment on the family of Ahab is canceled; you're seeing it with your own eyes - God doing what, through Elijah, he said he'd do." (10:9-10)These are particularly violent chapters. Lots of blood. Lots of death. Lots of payback for sin. Honestly, it's a little difficult to take it all in and still wrap my brain around the truth of how much God loves me. It's chapters like these that make some people think that the God of the Old Testament is so different from the God of the New Testament. But God never changes; He's the same God in both places. He's just making it abundantly clear to me how much He hates sin.
It helps me to think of these chapters in light of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. That's the only way I can hold all of these things in tension - man's desperate sinfulness, God's absolute holiness, and His great love for me.
After he took the wine, Jesus said, "It's done...complete." Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit. John 19:30He paid the debt that I could not pay. The payment is complete. Nothing else is required of me.
...that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says; that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers, and later to more than five hundred of his followers all at the same time...that he then spent time with James...and that he finally presented himself alive to me. [Paul] 1 Corinthians 15:3-8He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Our faith is not in vain.
If God didn't put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us...The One who died for us - who was raised to life for us! - is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, no homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture...None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8:31-39He loves us. Period. Nothing can separate us from the love of our God. That is GREAT news! O what a Savior! O Hallelujah!
Have a blessed Easter, my friends. He is alive!
1 comment:
You're right Cici! It is SUCH GREAT NEWS! God has stirred my heart this easter. He has helped me to share the horrible suffering and pain Jesus went through for us, His forsaken state and He has helped me to realize heart deep that He could have come down from the cross, He was God! But it was LOVE that kept Him there. He has risen indeed! And one day we will too! :) What a celebration!!!!!!
This weekend I've had prayers of brokenness for dear friends who have chosen to reject Jesus for now and hearts and minds aren't open to the need of a Savior. And this weekend I've had prayers of gratefulness, crying out in need and in thankfulness for my Savior, Jesus Christ. So thankful to be chosen and to be loved, so greatly. LOVE Romans 8:31-39 in the Msg! so real-great message! Happy Resurrection Day!!!!!
Post a Comment