What Took Place On That Cross

"Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land."  (Matthew 27:45)

It's a gloomy, raining, very cloudy day here.  Nothing to compare, however, with that Day of Days so long ago.  "Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut its glories in, when God, the Mighty Maker, died for man the creature's sin."

All the sin of all people of all generations of all people groups, from the Garden to the close of this present age, Jesus, "took in His Own Body on the Tree."  And to those who think that "The Christ Event" was a scenario of a vengeful God unleashing judgment on Jesus, the Son, as the Father and Holy Spirit "looked on," I beg your pardon.  The Bible makes it absolutely clear that what 2 Corinthians 5 declares is what was involved in that "Event" so long ago, "that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself...."

Now, no wonder the Lutheran Hymnal's version of "At the Cross" has the words, "when God, the Mighty Make, died for man the creature's sin."  Christendom needs to "wipe the slate clean" of theology which depicts the Triune Lord God as One who cannot "get his hands dirty," who cannot, "became flesh and dwelt among us," Who would never conceive of, "Immanuel, God with us," or be the One of Whom it was said, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 

On the Cross That Day, and in His Triumphal Resurrection, our Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, invited us sinners to the Banquet Table, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."  I pray we do.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You so much for what you "finished" on This Day.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Lost And Found"

"What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?"  (Matthew 18:12)

Luke's version says, "the one who was lost."  There are so many people today who feel like, "the one who was lost," and nobody cares, no one has left anything to find them.  They feel that only, "the ninety-nine," are of any importance to God.

Jesus, "The Good Shepherd," will do anything, has done everything to make sure that the, "one of them [who] goes astray," is not lost, but found.  Our Lord Jesus Christ always, "go[es] to the mountains to seek the one that is straying."  He did that for you and me, as the Christmas Carol says, "when we were gone astray."  There is absolutely no reason for you and me to feel like, "the one who was lost," and no one caring, no one looking for us.

Tomorrow is Good Friday.  It is "Good" because on that Day so long ago our Lord Jesus Christ went into the "rocks" and "crags" of pain and suffering to "rescue the perishing," or, "the one who was lost."  Maybe we could say that the history of man is one of "lost and found."  We were lost; Jesus found.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I am so thankful that even when I seemed to not care that I be found, You still came looking for me.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Now I Will...."

"'Now I will rise,' says the Lord; 'now I will be exalted, now I will lift Myself up.'"  (Isaiah 33:10)

We say such things as, "I Exalt Thee," and, "I lift You up."  Our text goes better, "I will rise....I will be exalted....I will lift Myself up."

And this, my friend, is what I pray for.  It is good for us to sing, "I exalt Thee," and, "Lord, we lift Your Name on high."  But our text is our Lord Jesus Christ declaring for the Godhead that, "Now I will...."

I pray for you and me today for God's, "I will...."  This can be an "answer" to prayers, and, it can also be the reality that the Living Triune God is taking an initiative, as in what the Psalm declares, "The time has come, yes, the set time has come."  There is no doubt that the Scriptures teach of "timing."  My desire and prayer for you and me is that we be as alert as we can concerning Jesus' timing, "Now I will...."

You and I pray for many "things."  Sometimes we receive what we pray for; other times we don't.  But in and through our sojourn there is a reoccurring, "Now I will rise, says the Lord; now I will be exalted, now I will lift Myself up."

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to recognize Your, "Now I will...."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....The Lord of Peace Himself...."

"Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.  The Lord be with you all."  (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Ephesians 2 says of our Lord Jesus Christ, "For He is our peace...."  Our text "adds" to this glorious comfort of the ages, "....peace always in every way."

The, "peace," of which our text speaks and other passages has the meaning of, "rest, quietness, peace of mind," and in the Hebrew sense, "health and welfare."  And, we know that this, "peace," is in, "The Prince of Peace," even Jesus.  Furthermore, if Paul said that it, "passes understanding," we can be sure that includes our understanding/comprehension as well.

Our text is a prayer, and I pray it for you now.  There are at least three people whom I know who also need this prayer----- now.  Would you pray our text for them?  I pray this again for you, "Now may the Lord of peace Himself," even our Lord Jesus Christ, "give you peace always in every way."

Father, in Jesus' Name, may it be so for us all.  Amen.

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Planning next DC Mission for May 14 & 15

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Remember Your Congregation...."

"Your enemies roar...; they set up their banners for signs....For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth."  (From Psalm 74)

You must read the whole of Psalm 74 to get a sense of what I am seeing concerning the "state of the world."  Psalm 74 is a "prophetic" description of the current world scene, yes, world, not just specific aspects of national cultures.  Psalm 74 is the perfect description of what you and I are witnessing among men and nations in this very hour.  Verse 18 declares, "Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord, and that a foolish people has blasphemed Your Name."

You must read the entirety of Psalm 74 to get an idea as to why, for me at least, this Psalm is an insightful prophetic revelation of humanism's rejection of the reign of Jesus Christ, not only in Christendom, but also in all human institutions.  Church "membership" is declining, as well as church finances.  The Democrat Party in America is imploding and descending into "the pit."  Along with the media and entertainment industry, all are increasingly reflecting the Words of Psalm 74.   

While the preceding paragraph many sound like a "downer" to most, it is not to me.  It is revealing the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies of just what the earth will be like, "in the latter days...."  Now while the Bible teaches much about the rise of evil, "The Word of God," also teaches about the last great "revival," or "in-gathering" of the lost, recorded in Revelation 14:15, 16, which reveals perhaps millions of souls surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ at the close of the age.  Jesus tells us that His Church will prevail against, "the gates of Hell."    

Psalm 74 declares that the world system is saying to the Followers of Jesus, "Let us destroy them altogether."  You and I are answering, "For [the Living Triune] God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth", right in the midst of humanism's chaos.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Lift up Your Feet to the perpetual desolations."  I pray for continual anointing in the Holy Spirit to navigate these waters.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2