Friday, April 10, 2009

Good Friday.

Today is Good Friday, and I sit here humbled and amazed at the love of my Savior. Who am I that I should be given the wonderful gift of eternal life? I do not deserve it in the least. I am a sinner who constantly falls flat on her face, yet God forgives me anyway.

Here are some passages I am reflecting on today:


Matthew 27:45-54

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit.

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with Him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"



Philippians 2:5-11

Have this mind among yourself, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.



Colossians 1:15-23

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven making peace by the blood of the cross.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.



Hebrews 2:9-18

But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, "I will tell of your name to my brothers, in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise." And again, "I will put my trust in Him." And again, "Behold, I and the children God has given me."

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
For surely it is not angels that He helps, but He helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

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I am forever grateful to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for saving me when I should not have been saved. He has forgiven me of my sins, and I could never repay Him. How wide and deep is the love of Christ! What a mystery it is that He should die for my sins, when I did nothing to deserve it. I have been set free from the chains of sin, and now I can live in freedom! What an amazing and wonderful thought that is.

I too often take God for granted, and I do not praise Him nearly like I should. I find myself expecting Him to do things for me instead of being grateful for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon my life.

Lord, help me to remember Your sacrifice. Help me not to forget what You have done for me, and for all other believers. You are the Alpha and Omega, my Rock, and my Salvation. At the end of the day, You are all that matters. Nothing in this world matters but You. I want to sing of Your praises as long as I live because of what You've done for me. You've taken a filthy sinner like me, and transformed me into Your likeness because of Your mercy and Your grace. I can never thank You enough.

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