Rejoice!

Believe that God has you in His arms protecting you always. 

John chapter 12 verses 27-30.

Jesus said, "Now My soul is deeply troubled. Shall I pray, Father, save Me from what lies ahead? But that is the very reason why I came! Father, bring glory and honor to Your name." Then a voice spoke from heaven saying, "I have already done this, and I will do it again." When the crowd heard the voice, some of them thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to Him. Then Jesus told them, "The voice was for your benefit, not mine."

It's Good Friday. 

   What is so good about someone being put to death on a cross? It was a brutal and unnecessary death. 

   There were 3 people put to death that day. 2 criminals and Christ in the center. One of the criminals spoke to Him saying, "So You're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving Yourself---and us, too, while You're at it." But the other criminal protested. "Do you not even fear God when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man has not done one thing wrong."

   It is hard for people to look upon the senseless death of Christ and not see the brutality that was afflicted upon Him. It is heart-breaking to anyone as it was to those of His day when they experienced the soldiers, the mocking of the crowds and the cold hearted rejection of the religious leaders.

   Today we know the whole story. That on the third day Christ was resurrected and seen by many. But even that is leads to speculation. People doubted and made up stories.

   Matthew chapter 28 says, "Some of the Temple police who had been guarding the tomb went to the chief priests and told them what had happened. A meeting of all the Jewish leaders was called, and it was decided to bribe the police to say they had been asleep when Jesus's disciples came during the night and stole His body."

   The human response is to justify what happened with a probable scenario that would be accepted by others. Christ had been telling people all along about who He is and what would happen. Yet it was hard for them to accept because He was standing there in front of them ,speaking to them, breathing and eating just like everyone else. 

   John chapter 7 says, "Some of the people who lived there in Jerusalem said among themselves, is this not the man they are trying to kill? But here He is preaching in public, and they say nothing to Him. Can it be that our leaders have learned, after all, that He really is the Messiah? But how can that be? For we know where this man was born; when Christ comes, He will just appear and no one will know where He comes from." 

   So, Jesus, in a sermon in the Temple, called out, "Yes, you know Me and where I was born and raised, but I am the representative of the one you do not know, and He is Truth. I know Him because I was with Him, and He sent Me to you."

   Even knowing what happened to Jesus makes it hard for people to accept. There are a lot of non believers because Christ and God cannot be seen or touched, therefore how can people be expected to believe except by faith?  

   And believing by faith is not easy to do when life's issues are real and they hurt us, attack us and never stop coming. That is all the more reason to want to believe in the promises of God, yet it was only in my total time of depression and distress that I asked God for His help. And the result has changed me forever. 

   In Exodus chapter 34 God speaking to Moses said, "For you must worship no other gods, but only Jehovah, for He is a God who claims absolute loyalty and exclusive devotion." 

   Exodus chapter 20 verse 5 says, "You must never bow to an image or worship it in any way; for I, the Lord you God, am very possessive. I will not share your affection with any other god!"

   Those words from God to Moses are absolute. There is no room for discussion. So we are asked to believe in God as the Creator of all things, including us. And to follow closely to His teachings. It is a leap of faith to believe and have hope in. 

    2 Corinthians chapter 5 says, "All these things are from God who brought us back to Himself through what Christ Jesus did."

   You are your own person and it will be in your timing that you may come to a point where you think of God and maybe reach out to Him in hope. And what a glorious day that will be. 

   Thank You Father for Jesus. Thank You Lord Jesus for what You did for all people. 😊  

Deuteronomy chapter 5 verses 29-31.

But you will also begin to search again for Jehovah your God, and you shall find Him when you search for Him with all your hearts and souls. When those bitter days have come upon you in the latter times, you will finally return to the Lord your God and listen to what He tells you. For the Lord your God is merciful---He will not abandon you nor destroy you nor forget the promises He made to your ancestors. 

Psalms chapter 118 verse 24.

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.         

2 Chronicles chapter 16 verse 9.

For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth, looking for people who's hearts are perfect toward Him, so that He can show His great power in helping them. 

2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21.

For God took the sinless Christ and poured into Him our sins. Then, in exchange, He poured God's goodness into us!