HALF THE STORY

Luke 23:48 NLT And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow.

Friday had come and gone and the hopes and dreams of the disciples seemed to have gone with it. They were broken hearted. The future they had expected and trained for, for the past three years, appeared to have come to nothing. They had ridden high on miracles, crested the waves of storms and seen Jesus walk on water, and now the One they loved had gone.

Even the dead were raised and nothing had seemed impossible, the world was their oyster, but then so-called reality hit hard. It looked as though it had all been for nothing, as though it had been false hopes and dreams and they were disillusioned, disappointed, disheartened and depressed! Things looked bad!

Ever been there? Ever had everything fall apart? If so, you will know how they felt but when we feel like that we’re only seeing half the story, looking at it from man’s point of view, when all the while God was, and is, working mightily behind the scenes.

That Saturday morning Jesus was no longer on earth but He was busy conquering every demon in hell and taking the keys of death and hell off the devil himself once and for all.

In the same way, when we see things in our lives that look hopeless, and we’re maybe feeling brokenhearted or depressed, we need to know this, Jesus is working mightily behind the scenes in our lives too!😊

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and He has promised to turn things around for good, to those who love the Lord.(Romans 8:28) Now that’s a promise and it’s waiting for us to stop focusing on the problem, and only seeing half the story, and instead starting to declare the promises of God in faith.

Sunday is on the way. Resurrection is on the way. Turn around is on the way, so the Holy Spirit is encouraging us to reach out in faith to believe it, receive it and take it. And let’s not forget to thank Him for it in advance.😊 In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Photo by Christian Agbede on Unsplash

SO THANKFUL FOR THE CROSS

Psalm 79:13 NLT Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation.

If it wasn’t for the Cross we wouldn’t be able to be one of the sheep of His pasture, but praise God we are.😊

Today is a special day to be thankful and remind ourselves Jesus gave His life on the Cross for our sakes, to bring us into close relationship with His Father, to be part of His family, to rescue us from judgement and an eternity in Hell separated from God forever. 

What a Saviour we have, and how thankful we are for Jesus being willing to shed His life blood so we can be forgiven, we can be called righteous and holy and seen as blameless in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. It boggles the mind, especially when we know we don’t deserve any of it, but it’s true!

There was a raid by the soldiers, on the Garden of Gethsemane that night, and it led to the road that led to the Cross and Jesus walked every step for you and for me. Maybe we need to walk that road to the Cross again today and remind ourselves of all Jesus has done not only for us, but for every person on the planet who will receive it.

He paid the debt we owe in full, and His grace is now overflowing into our lives. What a Saviour!

How wonderful it is to know we can come to the throne room today and find mercy, His forgiveness, the abundant overflowing of His grace, and receive the gift of His righteousness.😊

God is encouraging us to come and receive all that He offers us, to enter into all that is now ours, and be so thankful for the Cross, thankful for the shed blood, thankful for all Jesus is to us and praise His greatness, today and forever, from generation to generation. Glory to Your name Lord. 

And if you have never invited Jesus into your life, or if you have wandered away, know God loves you and offers you His forgiveness. This is a lovely opportunity to open your heart, repent of your sin, and let Him rescue you and give you His gift of right standing with Him and His new life today. Just come. Amen.

Photo by Daniel Joshua on Unsplash