April 20th 2014
What Does Good Friday Mean To You?
2 Corinthians 12:6-10 (NIV)
Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no-one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say. To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Black Friday is a Good Friday to some businesses, which is the day after Thanksgiving, as it is when many people choose to shop for Christmas gifts, and thus, gives these businesses the opportunity to show a profit for the year. This Good Friday is honored in the USA and some other countries may be picking it up too, even though some of these countries do not celebrate Thanksgiving, as the USA does. Note: The reason the term Good Friday is capitalized is because my software package sees the term as having special meaning, because of the Biblical use of this significant term, even though, most people do not identify with this special terminology!
For workers who do not report for work on Saturday, every Friday is a Good Friday, as it ushers in the weekend, and being off from work for the next two days. For religions or denominations that still observe the Sabbath day as occurring on Saturday as was done before Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday, their weekend starts at 3pm on Friday and extends through Saturday. Thus, every Friday is also a Good Friday to them.
The real Good Friday will be observed today, as it commemorates Jesus death on a cross as a perfect sacrifice to cover all of the sins of mankind. The blood shed by Jesus is said to cover over all of the sins of those who choose to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior! In the selected verses Jesus responded to Paul by assuring him, and us, about the power available to Jesus’ followers, when Jesus replied to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Remember, Paul like you did not actually see Jesus in the flesh! We, like a “doubting Thomas” must believe that Jesus did die for your sins, if you have chosen to be His follower!
Is your Christian strength from within yourself, or is it channeled from Jesus? Although Paul had experienced some miraculous events and revelations in his life, because of his salvation and obvious connection to Jesus he was regarded as someone special by the people around him, Paul still depended on his power supply to be from Jesus. In line with this Paul wrote, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” In this time in the USA we find many people who believe their strength comes through their education, or some kind of inner strength that comes from within them, and thus they see no need for attending a church or depending upon Jesus for anything!
Most of the movies being made today in the USA are depicting the undead as the heroes, and the living as the bad guys. Just lately we also see many new movies being based on Biblical stories, BUT the directors and producers see no need to follow the actual Bible verses, or to even have the acts being presented in the real order as defined in the Bible. Of course, we would expect for there to be added events to add more drama, but why not use the correct verbiage and order of events.
Jesus died on that cross for those He loved, even though many of them hated Him, and made it known by crying out “Crucify him” “Crucify him,” and selecting a known murder to live and for Jesus to die. If you had been there, would you have been part of the remnant or part of the masses? If you are a follower of Jesus today, you are part of the remnant, as there are more people living on this earth today who do not believe Jesus died for them, than there are those who believe Jesus died in their place. John wrote about those last hours Jesus spent before He chose to die for everyone showing His love for all. It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (John 13:1)
Many of us wonder why there are so many people who have chosen to not believe that Jesus is the only Savior there is, and thus, you must follow Him or be cast into the lake of fire. Are you responsible for this loss of eternal life in any way? By the Great Commission we are commanded to tell the story of Jesus to all those who have not heard it, or are yet to believe it.
I have borrowed the following paragraph from a writer in the USA that I read almost every day:
“I can't even begin to tell you how heavy my heart has been about this nation, the world we live in, and so many people dying every day and spending eternity in hell. The fact is, this nation and world could be looking forward each day to God's blessings, instead of awaiting His soon coming wrath and judgment. So many people die each day and end up in hell, when many of them would have accepted Jesus as their Savior and been spending eternity in Heaven if someone had only told them how to be saved.”
Do you find it difficult to tell someone how having Jesus in your life has improved it greatly? Some people say they cannot talk to people about the Bible, as they do not feel like they know it well enough to answer questions someone they witness to may ask! Usually, knowing the Bible is not a great advantage in telling someone how having Jesus in your life has improved it! If they believed the Bible, then they would not be asking you about Jesus anyway! If anyone is not interested in knowing about Jesus they will not take the time to read the Bible! Are you taking any of your time to read the Bible?
Are you taking any time to tell children around you about Jesus, and how having Him in your life has improved it? A lot of people will attend a church of their choice this Sunday, because they are playing it safe, just in case the Easter story is true, maybe this once a year visit will allow them to be saved and be with God for all eternity. If this does not describe you, then why are you going to attend a church on Easter Sunday? Today is Good Friday and therefore, figuratively speaking Jesus has not yet died.
Will you go to worship your risen Lord on Easter Sunday? Is Jesus alive in your heart today? What does Good Friday mean to you? You have eternal life, because Jesus died for you! Only if you believe it!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
2 Corinthians 12:6-10 (NIV)
Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no-one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say. To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Black Friday is a Good Friday to some businesses, which is the day after Thanksgiving, as it is when many people choose to shop for Christmas gifts, and thus, gives these businesses the opportunity to show a profit for the year. This Good Friday is honored in the USA and some other countries may be picking it up too, even though some of these countries do not celebrate Thanksgiving, as the USA does. Note: The reason the term Good Friday is capitalized is because my software package sees the term as having special meaning, because of the Biblical use of this significant term, even though, most people do not identify with this special terminology!
For workers who do not report for work on Saturday, every Friday is a Good Friday, as it ushers in the weekend, and being off from work for the next two days. For religions or denominations that still observe the Sabbath day as occurring on Saturday as was done before Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday, their weekend starts at 3pm on Friday and extends through Saturday. Thus, every Friday is also a Good Friday to them.
The real Good Friday will be observed today, as it commemorates Jesus death on a cross as a perfect sacrifice to cover all of the sins of mankind. The blood shed by Jesus is said to cover over all of the sins of those who choose to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior! In the selected verses Jesus responded to Paul by assuring him, and us, about the power available to Jesus’ followers, when Jesus replied to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Remember, Paul like you did not actually see Jesus in the flesh! We, like a “doubting Thomas” must believe that Jesus did die for your sins, if you have chosen to be His follower!
Is your Christian strength from within yourself, or is it channeled from Jesus? Although Paul had experienced some miraculous events and revelations in his life, because of his salvation and obvious connection to Jesus he was regarded as someone special by the people around him, Paul still depended on his power supply to be from Jesus. In line with this Paul wrote, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” In this time in the USA we find many people who believe their strength comes through their education, or some kind of inner strength that comes from within them, and thus they see no need for attending a church or depending upon Jesus for anything!
Most of the movies being made today in the USA are depicting the undead as the heroes, and the living as the bad guys. Just lately we also see many new movies being based on Biblical stories, BUT the directors and producers see no need to follow the actual Bible verses, or to even have the acts being presented in the real order as defined in the Bible. Of course, we would expect for there to be added events to add more drama, but why not use the correct verbiage and order of events.
Jesus died on that cross for those He loved, even though many of them hated Him, and made it known by crying out “Crucify him” “Crucify him,” and selecting a known murder to live and for Jesus to die. If you had been there, would you have been part of the remnant or part of the masses? If you are a follower of Jesus today, you are part of the remnant, as there are more people living on this earth today who do not believe Jesus died for them, than there are those who believe Jesus died in their place. John wrote about those last hours Jesus spent before He chose to die for everyone showing His love for all. It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (John 13:1)
Many of us wonder why there are so many people who have chosen to not believe that Jesus is the only Savior there is, and thus, you must follow Him or be cast into the lake of fire. Are you responsible for this loss of eternal life in any way? By the Great Commission we are commanded to tell the story of Jesus to all those who have not heard it, or are yet to believe it.
I have borrowed the following paragraph from a writer in the USA that I read almost every day:
“I can't even begin to tell you how heavy my heart has been about this nation, the world we live in, and so many people dying every day and spending eternity in hell. The fact is, this nation and world could be looking forward each day to God's blessings, instead of awaiting His soon coming wrath and judgment. So many people die each day and end up in hell, when many of them would have accepted Jesus as their Savior and been spending eternity in Heaven if someone had only told them how to be saved.”
Do you find it difficult to tell someone how having Jesus in your life has improved it greatly? Some people say they cannot talk to people about the Bible, as they do not feel like they know it well enough to answer questions someone they witness to may ask! Usually, knowing the Bible is not a great advantage in telling someone how having Jesus in your life has improved it! If they believed the Bible, then they would not be asking you about Jesus anyway! If anyone is not interested in knowing about Jesus they will not take the time to read the Bible! Are you taking any of your time to read the Bible?
Are you taking any time to tell children around you about Jesus, and how having Him in your life has improved it? A lot of people will attend a church of their choice this Sunday, because they are playing it safe, just in case the Easter story is true, maybe this once a year visit will allow them to be saved and be with God for all eternity. If this does not describe you, then why are you going to attend a church on Easter Sunday? Today is Good Friday and therefore, figuratively speaking Jesus has not yet died.
Will you go to worship your risen Lord on Easter Sunday? Is Jesus alive in your heart today? What does Good Friday mean to you? You have eternal life, because Jesus died for you! Only if you believe it!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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