This is Holy Week in the Christian’s faith life. It is a time when we typically consider the days that led up to the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus paid to redeem us from all sin.
On the surface, we acknowledge that we could never earn our salvation, and that is why we trust Him for the full payment. GOD could only accept a pure and spotless sacrifice, and Jesus, being GOD in the flesh, was every bit pure and spotless. Beneath that surface is where the Christian struggles to grasp the full weight of what really took place. I honestly don’t think we could ever live long enough to truly comprehend the magnitude, depth and width of the price paid in order for us to be reconciled with the Father. And that’s okay. GOD’s eternal ways seldom make ‘sense’ to a limited human mind.
Let’s just consider a few examples of this mind-blowing concept.
Humility leads to elevation. In a world of entitlement and big titles, image makers and platforms that seem to lower the bar of ethics, where technology meant to create more time and space seems to have absorbed all the intended freedom … GOD says the last shall be first and the servant is the greatest of all.
10 Humble yourself in the Lord’s presence, and he will honor you. James 4:10 NCV
16 “Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.” Matthew 20:16 The Message
28 In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people.” Matthew 20:28 NCV
Forgiveness leads to freedom. This is a tough pill to swallow when you’ve encountered enough gut-punches to leave you beaten down to a pulp ~ both physically and emotionally. When we release the choke-hold on our determined white-knuckled fists that demand the offender to ‘pay back’ the high cost of what they ‘stole’ from us (material wealth, emotional stability, reputation, relationships, etc.), we are free from the tyranny of their wrong doings. In actuality, we release the matter to GOD to judge rightly and allow ourselves to begin our own healing. The elimination of the stress that comes from demanding someone ‘return’ something to us (which they likely can’t even recall or recognize, much less understand the value of what was taken) is lifted and we are able to move forward without the burden.
13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:13 ESV
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 NIV
Putting others ahead of me does not devalue me. We’re all busy. And yet, too often we pass up the opportunity to experience the blessing of being someone else’s biggest supporter by not rearranging our to-do list. I’m not suggesting that your goals and responsibilities should suffer at the agenda of another person’s needs. What I am speaking to is the privilege to take a closer look at our ‘want-to-do’s’ and ‘need-to-do’s’ in light of the overwhelming burden someone else is trying to carry single-handed. It is amazing what GOD will do on our behalf to ‘make things work out’ when we do things out of love because His Love lives in us.
13 The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them. John 15:13 GNT
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 ESV
And perhaps this is why we are referred to as a peculiar people. Our way of living is in response to a call to obedience to the Living God whose ways are so much higher than ours that nothing seems to make (human) sense. It is in His economy that the value is increased when the selfishness transforms into selflessness.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 ESV
5-8 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Philippians 2:5 The Message
It is my hope that we all do a careful self-examination of who we are in Christ. And that begins with coming to Christ. If you’ve not committed yourself to the Savior, and asked Him to forgive you of your sins so that you can live eternally with Him, you’re truly missing out on the best offer ever made available to you, Sweet Friend. Nothing to earn. You don’t have to ‘get cleaned up’ before you just get up close to Him with a simple prayer ~ in fact, just call out His Name and He’s ready to listen and has no time limit. You have His undivided attention.
Remember, it’s His Economy. Don’t try to make human sense of things. That’s where faith will help you walk the talk, even when you can’t seem to see where your next step lands.
I’d love to hear all about your adventures with Jesus in the days to come. Please come back to share with us.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~
Titus Two 