Forty Days of Praying the Word of God: Day 16

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

John 19:30

Thank You for such love, Lord. Thank You that it was not Your desire that we would perish in our sins. Thank You that the atonement is finished, and eternal life is given to those who believe and truss in Your Son’s finished work on the cross.

Help me walk worthy of the price that was paid for my sin. Help me to never take it for granted, but to always see it with gratitude, with humility and wonder – to see it for what it is – You took the punishment for my sins so that I could live. Oh Lord, what kind of love is this?!

I pray Lord, for the strength to walk in the it is finished gospel. Help me to stop trying to redeem myself from my sins, to stop trying to earn eternal life, to stop trying to be my own savior. I pray for a resting to come to my soul, a resting in the truth that redemption is finished.

And I pray for courage for Your Church, Lord. Courage to preach the whole gospel, as it is written. I pray that we will not soften it or water it down, but that we will boldly put forth the truth that all who will not believe Jesus, and who will not put their trust in His finished work of redemption, will perish.

Give us hearts that break at the thought, Lord! Set a fire in Your people that burns for those who are perishing, a fire of urgency to reach them with the truth that can save them. I pray for a great revival in Your Church, a revival of the gospel message, and a desire to see it go forth into the nations, into our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and yes, even into our churches.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

a few thoughts on a good friday

CrucifixionI got up this morning after not enough sleep, made my coffee and sat down in front of the crucifixion. The story is familiar and strange, breathtaking and gut wrenching. Bloody and beautiful.

It is His story and it is mine, but we see it through different eyes.

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.”

He sees prayer. I see betrayal.

“Jesus replied, ‘Do what you came for, friend.'”

He sees a friend. I see an enemy. A traitor.  

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me.’”

He sees brothers. I see deserters and cowards.

His story and mine, all tangled together. I am the one He came to save and He is the One who came to save me. I had sin, He had blood and now there is blood where there used to be sin. Our stories dance together and look nothing alike.

His eyes and mine see it all so differently.

1024eyes

I see sinner, He sees daughter.

eyes

I see shame He sees the cross.

Seen through different eyes, our stories come together and it’s Friday. We meet at Golgotha, each bringing what is needed to the cross.

My nails, His hands. My sin, His blood. My anger, His love. My weakness, His strength. His provision, my need. His death, my life.

His story and mine all tangled together

in a beautiful bloody kind of way.

I will never be the same. He will never change.

It’s a Good Friday.

Luke 22:31; Matthew 26:50; Matthew 26:56; Matthew 28:10