Amazing Friday

More important than your birthday, more important than Thanksgiving, more important, even, than Christmas…even more important than Easter….Good Friday is the single most important day of a Christian’s life.  Why do we not celebrate the day that Jesus chose to DIE FOR US?  It should be called Great Friday or Amazing Friday or something that reflects what happened on that day!!

He was born at Christmas…but He could have changed his mind and chose not to die.  He conquered death at Easter….BUT 3 days before that… He was beaten beyond recognition, mocked, cursed, spit on, kicked, punched, and hung upon a cross…all for you and me.   

The more I learn about Jesus, the more I appreciate the gift He gave us.  He didn’t just give us the gift of eternal life, He gave us the gift of an intercessor, a confidant, a healer, a protector and a friend.  I can’t even imagine living in the time of the Old Testament without Jesus there to stand in the gap for me.  His love and forgiveness are beyond our comprehension.     

So tomorrow, on Good Friday, don’t forget to honor the ONE that gave his life to save yours. He deserves the highest honor and praise that can be given. 

Phl 2:8-11 NIV - And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 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.

Undercover Boss

I love watching the show “Undercover Boss”.  If you haven’t watched the show, it is about the top CEO's of different companies going under cover to work in the lowliest  positions in their company.  It is a great tool for them to understand the business and the needs of the employees.  It really opens their eyes.  At the end of each episode, the boss rewards the good employees with things like trips, raises or a college fund…something to let them know he appreciates the work they do.  He may also demote or fire employees that are not doing their job.  In order for that boss to be able to know the true heart of the employees, He has to disguise himself and become like one of them.

This show isn’t a new idea…actually Jesus was the first Undercover Boss!!  He left His throne in Heaven to come to this Earth to live as a man.  He needed to know how it felt to be a human and have emotions and problems and temptations.  He wanted to understand the needs of His “employees” so that He could make their lives better.  A Boss that cares about his employees has better employees!!    

We need to do the best work that we can for our Boss, Jesus. Even though He is not with us now in body…He is here in Spirit.  He still sees what we are doing...good or bad.  And at the end of our episode…there will be rewards for the work that we have done for His corporation (His kingdom).  The rewards will be based on the work…will you receive the good rewards or will you be “fire”d?? 

Col 3:23-25 NIV - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Can you hear the crying?

“At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.”   Now it is the morning after.  There is loud wailing and crying among the Egyptian people…for there is not a house without someone dead. 

Can you imagine this happening?  Can you hear the cries? Can you feel the pain of those left behind?  The mothers crying…even the mother sheep and the mother cows…crying out for their firstborn babies. 

I cannot help but think about another time when there is going to be wailing and crying here on the earth.  There will be another midnight visit, this time from Jesus himself.  He is going to come back and those that know Him will meet him in the air...both the dead in Christ and the Christians that are alive at that time. In Matthew it tells of this event: “That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.  Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matt 24:39-42 

There will be families that are left behind…wondering where their saved loved ones have gone.  When Jesus takes those that are His…I believe there will be tremendous wailing and crying.  First, because their loved ones are gone…then because they realized that Jesus had come and they were not ready. 

The bible tells us that Jesus will come as a thief in the night.  “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”  Matt 24:43-44    

As we reflect on that Passover long ago…let us remember that Jesus will come back and take His children home…will you be ready to go?  Or will you be left behind wailing and crying…

Passover 4/18/11

When I looked on my calendar this morning, it said “Passover begins at sundown.” Immediately I start singing “when I see the blood, when I see the blood, when I see the blood, I will pass, I will pass over you.”  Then I decided to refresh my memory of what the true meaning of Passover is.

The story of the Passover is found in Exodus 11 and 12.  It was the time in Israel’s history when the angel of the Lord moved through Egypt destroying the firstborn of all people and animals. This was the last of the ten plagues God put upon Egypt causing Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave the country and their captivity.

God told Moses to have every Israelite household kill a male lamb, one without defect, and place the blood on the sides and tops of the door frames of the house.   When the angel of death passed over and saw the blood, that household would be spared.

This was a foreshadowing of what Jesus, the spotless lamb, was going to do for us. His blood would cover the sins of those who believe in Him, causing God’s judgment to pass over them.

Are our doorposts covered with the blood of the Lamb?   “Christ our Redeemer died on the cross, died for the sinner, paid all his due; all who receive Him need never fear, yes, He will pass, will pass over you.”      

Priorities

We are busy.  We are stressed out.  We are looking for any excuse we can find to just stay home and rest.   Between work, school, ball practice, dance classes and a thousand other obligations, we find ourselves desperate for some time to just…rest.  Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

Why do we look everywhere else except to the ONE that can give perfect rest and peace? Why do we put spending time with Jesus and learning more about Him at the bottom of the list of obligations that we have?  Without Him, there would be no job, no ability to learn, no skill for running or dancing…nothing.  Without Him there is nothing.  All that He asks is for us to spend some time each day with Him and just four(4) hours a week assembling with other believers to worship Him and encourage each other.  Four hours…that is less than three(3) percent of your entire week.  Some of us spend four hours a day watching TV, playing games and/or being on the computer and cell phones. The bible instructs us to “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT

When you make your long list of things to do….where is “spending time with Jesus”?  Where is “assembling in His house”?  He gave His life for you.  He was beaten and tortured and died to save you.   Why do you put EVERYTHING else in your life above Him?  He is tired of our excuses.  The day of His coming back is approaching and we need to be ready. 

Ask yourself today…”what are my priorities”?  See what is on the top of the list…  

Useful Vessels

What is a vessel?  According to the dictionary the definition is “a container for holding something.”  A bowl would be considered a vessel.  If you wanted to put some food in a bowl, you would want that bowl to be clean, right?  No one wants to eat food that has been placed in a filthy bowl.  No matter how good the food is, it will get contaminated by the dirt and germs in the bowl…making it inedible…not useful. 

We are vessels for God; set apart to do His good work.   He wants to fill us with good things, but if we are filthy inside, the good things will get contaminated.  The sin in our lives prohibits us from fully being used by God.  In 2 Timothy 2:19-21 it talks about the vessel God wants us to be.  “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

How can we keep our “bowls” clean?  By confessing our sins and repenting –TURNING AWAY- from the sin and the cause of the sin.  The Lord knows us...and He wants to use us to do His good work.  Oh that we would desire to be the useful, honorable, and sanctified vessels that he requires.  What a privilege to be trusted with the good things of our Lord! 

So clean your bowl and let God fill it up!!  He has work for us to do!!!