Christmas 2011

Luke 23:34  Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

As usual when I come up with these little devotionals, it's because I have been convicted of something and feel the need to write (talk) about it.

As I read this, this morning, all I could think about was how worthless i felt.  I mean, Here Jesus is been beaten to a pulp, spit on, and in what had to have been excruciating pain……Asking God to forgive the people who did this to them.  He knew the magnitude of what was going; He knew that God's anger was going to rage!

Could you imagine watching thieves, liars, ect… beat your child?  Could you imagine watching people spit and curse your child while he/she was hanging on a cross gasping for breathes of air?  Can you imagine the anger( pure rage) you would feel toward all those involved?

Make no mistake about it, God had to have felt anger toward this sinful people.  Now can you imagine some of your childs last words being something like: "Daddy, don't be angry with them because they really don't realize what they are doing?  It tears me up to think about Jesus' crucifixion like this, but it should tear me (us all) up.

Now realize that God did get angry and rather than punish those (us) hateful sinners who did this to his child, he had to focus this his anger on His own Son.  When Jesus yelled out " Father, why have you forsaken me?", we know that God had pulled his presence away from Jesus.  You see, Jesus was taking on all of the past, present, and future sins of all mankind so that we could be given the chance to ask for Grace through Jesus.  If God had not judged Jesus like a sinner, then He could never have granted us Salvation.

GOD IS ABLE TO FORGIVE OUR SINS ONLY BECAUSE HIS SON TOOK OUR PUNISHMENT.  Praise be to God!

If you have never asked God to forgive you, and have never truly felt sorry about the things you have done:  all you have to do is tell God you know you are a sinner, tell Thank Him (Jesus) for dying on that cross for YOU.  Then make God (Jesus) the Lord of your life.  Tell others about your experience.  Remember we are to be fishers of men!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!