“Jesus cannot forget us; we have been graven on the palms of his hands.” – Lois Picillo
In order to get to Easter, we have to go through Good Friday. The hope of Easter, the hope of resurrection and life in the Kingdom only comes through the suffering of the cross. Jesus understood this, so he willingly went to the cross. He didn’t do this without hesitation, though. He experienced a time of trail in Gethsemane leading up to his arrest where he asked his Father to let the cup of his destiny pass from him. However, he relented and prayed, “Not my will, but yours.”
On our journey to wholeness and hope there is a crucifixion. Not the crucifixion that forgives us of our sins, Jesus already endured that. Forgiveness is freely offered. It’s called grace for a reason. Rather, we must endure a crucifixion of our self-will, the will that thinks it is preserving the self, but in reality that will is imperiling the self because when we allow the sinful nature to guide us, we always resist the goodness of God’s plan and purpose.
Jesus Christ died so we can live. What kind of lives are we living? Are we overcoming more and more everyday? Are we experiencing God’s resurrection power moving in us and through us to bring about Kingdom transformation in our world? Are we intently listening to and obeying God’s voice?
We need a personal Good Friday so we can experience a personal Easter. This week we are gathering on Friday for a service of consecration and communion, then we are gathering for celebration on Easter morning. I hope to see you and I hope together we celebrate the Risen Christ and what he wants to do, can do, and will do, in and through us!
In order to get to Easter, we have to go through Good Friday. The hope of Easter, the hope of resurrection and life in the Kingdom only comes through the suffering of the cross. Jesus understood this, so he willingly went to the cross. He didn’t do this without hesitation, though. He experienced a time of trail in Gethsemane leading up to his arrest where he asked his Father to let the cup of his destiny pass from him. However, he relented and prayed, “Not my will, but yours.”
On our journey to wholeness and hope there is a crucifixion. Not the crucifixion that forgives us of our sins, Jesus already endured that. Forgiveness is freely offered. It’s called grace for a reason. Rather, we must endure a crucifixion of our self-will, the will that thinks it is preserving the self, but in reality that will is imperiling the self because when we allow the sinful nature to guide us, we always resist the goodness of God’s plan and purpose.
Jesus Christ died so we can live. What kind of lives are we living? Are we overcoming more and more everyday? Are we experiencing God’s resurrection power moving in us and through us to bring about Kingdom transformation in our world? Are we intently listening to and obeying God’s voice?
We need a personal Good Friday so we can experience a personal Easter. This week we are gathering on Friday for a service of consecration and communion, then we are gathering for celebration on Easter morning. I hope to see you and I hope together we celebrate the Risen Christ and what he wants to do, can do, and will do, in and through us!