Good morning,
The
week ahead of us is going to be a very special week for God’s kids. On
Tuesday, we will be remembering the great victory God gave the children
of Israel as a result of the Passover. It was then that God finally
broke Pharaoh’s stubborn hold over his children at the cost of the life
of the eldest son in every Egyptian home. It was the blood of the lambs
on the doorposts that kept the Jewish families safe from the death
angel. On Friday of this week we will be remembering another event
about 1,500 years later when God allowed the Lamb of God to be
sacrificed on a cruel cross so that his shed blood could be the eternal
proof of God’s love for us. Jesus willingly gave up his life to pay the
full price for all of our sins. The third event that comes at the end
of this week is the resurrection of our Savior as living proof that the
blood of Jesus now makes it possible for all who call on the name of the
Lord to be saved. That first Sunday was a week of shock and confusion,
but after talking to the risen Savior many times during the 40 days
after his resurrection, the believers became totally convinced that he
had died and risen again to save them, not to abandon them.
Paul
had a very special perspective on what the Lord had done. Paul became
famous for killing some of the early believers, but Jesus saved him from
God’s anger and gave him a life of joy and peace. Paul lived through
many difficult years, suffered much persecution from God’s enemies, but
never lost his confidence in the new life God gave him. God didn’t save
him to beat him up. Paul did have to learn the lessons of God’s
discipline, but these lessons led to greater joy and deeper peace.
Jesus died so that all of us who have lived since that wonderful day
over 2,000 year ago could look forward to living with our Savior
forever. It will really help us to remember that there were many dark
days before the Israelites marched out of Egypt, but then came
deliverance. There were many dark and confusing days before the
crucifixion and the resurrection, but then Jesus brought eternal life to
all who would believe in him. In many ways things are dark and
confusing for us today, but what God longs for us to do is to encourage
one other and build up one another while we wait for his promised
return. Dear Lord, please help us to use our lives today in getting one
another ready for his almost here return.
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out
his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or
alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage
each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing
Roy Wisner
