Day 7: Silence

                                   For if we have been united with him in a death like his, 

                             we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 

                                                               - Romans 6:5, ESV

Day 6: Finished

Text: Isaiah 53:4-11, John 19:16b-37, John 3:16

In a sham of a trial with an unjust verdict, He shows us that this is how God intended for His only Son to be sentenced. What they meant for evil, God meant for good. John shows us God – working out His purposes in this poor, fallen world. In a situation where God seems to be completely absent, He has been present for ages. 

And when Christ breathes His final words before His death, “It is finished,” He not only indicates that the worst ordeal – bearing the wrath of God against sin in the place of His people (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) – is literally over, He has also completed the work of salvation for His people. ~ She Reads Truth

He did it all. It is finished. Paid in full. He has delivered us. We are set free. For whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Unimaginable. For my King to die for me, a sinner, to ransom me. I can't begin to fathom this. I can't understand why He would do such a thing for me.How great is His love for you and me. Lord, I am ever so grateful.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17). He is the answer to what we are looking for.

It is the worst and best of all human deaths. For on this tree he bears our sins in his body (1 Peter 2:24), “the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). And now it is finished. ~ Desiring God

Day 5: Denial

Text: Mark 14:26-31, Luke 22:54-62, John 18:10, John 21:17

Like Peter, I fall short. It is only by God's grace that I can stand. Still He calls me friend, daughter. There is nothing like His love, there is none like Him.

The same Peter who denied Christ three times is the one God used to help establish the early Church. 

As you seek the Lord in the coming days in preparation for Easter Sunday, remember God’s great love for Peter. He was a disciple – a great friend to Christ – and yet he fell short. Very short. And Christ loved him still – and called him to do great work for His Kingdom! 

Isn’t God good to show us over and over again, even amidst the trial of His Son, that He loves us? 

When we are weak, He is strong. And He wants to use us in the great outworking of His plan for His glory! ~ She Reads Truth

Day 4: The Betrayal

Text: Psalm 41:9, Matthew 26:47-56

Judas betrayed Jesus, and yet Jesus called him friend. It is just like our Lord to teach us to respond in love even in His darkest hour. This truth humbles me. This is a lesson I find so hard to learn and to practice. I often feel that I need to be justified whenever I feel that I an wronged. I seldom respond in love when I am irked. I often respond in impatience, sometimes in anger.

I forget that I too have my Judas moments. 

It's remarkable to point out that the price for which Judas betrayed Jesus was 30 pieces of silver, about a month's wage. How many times have I chosen work over Jesus? How many times have I pushed Him aside and chose myself?

Still He calls me friend...

And in His love He honored His Father, just as He had promised through sweaty, bloody tears in Gethsemane. Christ’s submission to the Father’s omnipotent hand was unwavering.

In His love – not just for Judas and not only for the Father, but for us – He was led to His trial. And He was sentenced to death.

Your betrayals and mine – His blood covers it all. And He calls us “friend.” ~ She Reads Truth

Day 2: The Temple

Text: Isaiah 56:7-8, Jeremiah 7:8-11, Matthew 21:10-17, Luke 19:45-48

"After Jesus tosses out those who would pervert the temple of God into a temple of wealth and greed and convenience, He does something revolutionary: He invites the Least inside." ~ She Reads Truth

 Matthew 21:14 is a verse I have overlooked so many times. After Jesus threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling, then there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and He healed them.

"The blind, the lame, the children all come in and Jesus welcomes them, heals them, confirms their place among Him. He cleared out those who profaned the temple and ushered in those who humbly sought after God." ~ She Reads Truth

And are we not God's temple? Are not our bodies His temple?

 Lord, I pray that you take out the robber, the thief in me. Humble me and cleanse me, Lord, that You may use me as a channel of your love for the people around me. I know, Father, that You use vessels no matter how broken they are just as long as they are clean. Cleanse me, Lord. Please use me. Amen.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

Day 1: Holy Week: Hosanna

My heart is fickle. I love the Lord with all my heart but my heart is fickle. Even in loving Him I fail to do so perfectly. Only by grace, only by grace can I offer my feeble praises. It's not about me loving and praising Him. It's about Him loving us and offering us salvation no matter how weak our heart and faith is. How great is our God! 

"When our hearts betray us like the crowds eventually betrayed our Lord – He still saves. 
Hosanna in the highest! Salvation belongs to our God." ~ SheReadsTruth

Text: Matthew 21:1-11, Psalm 118:19-29, Revelation 7:9-12

Holy Week

"Let us be wrecked, be changed, and find ourselves in humble worship of our Savior." ~SRT

Easter is coming!