A Very Good Friday

Good. 

What does that word mean? 

Simple, Biblically speaking “good” is perfectly in line with the will of God.

Today we remember the day that Christ was crucified.  And we call it “Good.”

And the term has rarely ever been used so correctly.

It was perfectly in line with the will of God that Christ should suffer and die for us.

The Cross signifies the most loving act ever, the most amazing demonstration of grace.

While the empty grave on Sunday demonstrates His Power…

The Cross today, just as it did 2,000 years ago, demonstrates His Purpose.

Jesus came to save sinners.  He came to redeem us… to pay the price.

It was ALWAYS the Father’s will – His desire – that the relationship that was broken in the garden be restored.

It was ALWAYS His desire that we walk with Him, unashamed, completely whole, and completely free, with unbroken, unhindered fellowship.

It was His will that Christ would bear our transgression; that He would die in our place; that all of our debt be erased through His obedience.

It IS His desire that we come to know His Son – to be redeemed.

What the law required… Jesus paid on the Cross.

And He paid it willingly. 

No one took His life… He gave it. 

As a man, He laid it down. 

As our High Priest, He offered it up. 

As the Lamb of God, He was the Perfect Sacrifice.

Today, what we remember… is good.

It is the Good in the good news that is the gospel.

Today we remember His death… but at the same time… our eternal life.

What a GOOD Day it is indeed.

SDG

I was raised Catholic

"I was raised Catholic."

This was the answer I found myself giving one day when someone asked me how I knew the stories from the Bible so well.

Yes, I had studied the scriptures, and I could have said that I knew them simply from reading the Bible… but the truth is that I was raised Catholic and had attended Catholic school all through high school.  So every day I had religion class.  And I learned about Abraham, Noah, and Jonah and their stories.

I was raised Catholic.  Along with the stories from the Bible I also learned about the Catholic tradition, the teaching, and the doctrine. 

As the single largest denomination in Christianity I not only run in to more Catholics than any other when I am talking about God, I am also asked if I am Catholic more than I am any other. 

When people asked me now if I am Catholic I say, “I was raised Catholic but I am not a practicing Catholic.”

You see… there are certain doctrines that I do not hold to and so I cannot, in good conscience, say that I am Catholic.  Just as there are certain doctrines or traditions in other denominations of Christianity that draw me to the conclusion that I am not those either. 

We cannot continue to define ourselves by what makes us different from our brothers in Christ…

We cannot continue to try to prove anyone right or wrong.

We must be one.  We must join hands and lock arms around the camp.  “Is Christ divided?” (1 Cor 1:13)

I am not a practicing Lutheran, or Presbyterian, or Pentecostal, or Anglican, or Methodist, or …

Truth is I don’t want to be a practicing anything.

I want to be a LIVING EXAMPLE of the love, and grace, and truth of the gospel.

I want people to see Jesus in me… not a set of rules or obligations.

No matter who’s they are.

I am not religious.  But if I appear to be because of my consistency or my spiritual disciplines… then praise be to God!  Because He is consistent.

No matter what denomination a person belongs to, no matter where they choose to worship, or where they are comfortable… if they do what they do out of gratitude for what Jesus has done… if they know that it is not what they do… but what He has done… that gets them into heaven… but they can’t help but do what they do BECAUSE they realize this…

AMEN! AMEN! AND AMEN!

Wherever you are… be there for Jesus.  Be a LIVING EXAMPLE.

We are to be ONE.  Our differences are not as important as the ONE we have in common.

If you call on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, if you know Him as Savior… you are my brother in Christ.

When you meet others who do the same… please see them as brothers as well.  We are going to have an eternity together… may as well get use to each other now.

SDG

Rough seas make for great fishing

Got a text from a brother in Christ this morning.  At one point the conversation went like this…

“I’m in the same boat.  The seas have been a little rough.”

To which I replied ,

“Rough seas make for great fishing.”

Of course, then, I had to Google it to see if I was blowing hot air.

But it turns out it is true.  For a number of reasons which include the barometric pressure, predatory fish go on a hunting frenzy… which means lures become more effective.

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matt 4:19

When our lives enter a stormy season maybe, just maybe, our focus should not be on what is happening to us… but on who is hungry... who is in the water with us.

Those predatory fish… the men who are hungry, looking to eat, primed to receive the lure of our testimony… are out there.  And if we don’t get to them, someone else will.  And they will miss out on a chance to eat of the Bread of Life.

Do not fear the storms… He can calm them.

But if He did… those fish might not bite.

Get geared up… the armor of God is water proof.

Remember, the storm you are facing is meant to bring others to Christ.  We need to know the times and seasons.  We need to look to the sky.

We need to cast the net of the Gospel into the raging sea.

We need to be the light that lets the Light shine through as a beacon in the night.

He wants us to be fishers of men.  He wants us to say “Bring the storm Lord! SO THAT the fish will come!”

How we see life… how we see the storm… determines how we ultimately experience it.

Don’t ask why the storm has come… look to see who it might be bringing toward you.

Ask the Lord for discernment to see the hungry ones.  And put Jesus on the hook.

 

SDG