We are in the midst of a very important week – even more important than Spring Break!
It is Holy Week -the week in which we remember the last days of Jesus’ life. This is the week in which we remember God’s love and faithfulness in providing for us a Savior. This is a week in which we retell the story of God’s amazing and great love for all people revealed to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But this love story began when God, the Creator, first crafted humanity in His image. It is indeed a story of love that the Bible tells from beginning and into the future – a story of God’s pursuit of being in relationship with humanity.
And so it seems appropriate – that just for a moment you hit the pause button on your reading in the first book of Samuel and consider these Scripture verses that will help us remember once again the purpose and the meaning and the love through the cross and resurrection of Jesus.
And so it seems appropriate – that just for a moment you hit the pause button on your reading in the first book of Samuel and consider these Scripture verses that will help us remember once again the purpose and the meaning and the love through the cross and resurrection of Jesus.
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. Romans 5:6-9
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:4-7
When they hurled their insults at Jesus, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:23-25
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14
This is how the love of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him. This is love: it is not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as the sacrifice that deals with our sins. 1 John 4:9-10
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:4-7
When they hurled their insults at Jesus, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:23-25
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14
This is how the love of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him. This is love: it is not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as the sacrifice that deals with our sins. 1 John 4:9-10
Thanks be to God – for the gift of his Son Jesus Christ – through whom we receive the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. Amen. And Amen. - Wendy Cordova, pastor of Evangelism and Lay Ministry
No comments:
Post a Comment