What’s so good about Good Friday

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should like unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2: 24.

As we join with Christians all over the world to celebrate Resurrection Day, I am awed by Jesus’ reactions to the events that preceded his death. He experienced pain before he ever endured the cross.

“We may say that on the first Good Friday afternoon was completed that great act by which light conquered darkness and goodness conquered sin. That is the wonder of our Savior’s crucifixion.” – Phillips Brooks

The Bible states that everyone sins and falls short. We should strive for perfection, but we are humans, and we will fail at times. Jesus’ love for his people wouldn’t allow him to hold a grudge against those that betrayed him either. In fact, he chose to serve and have dinner with them. He washed the feet of his betrayers. He sat at the dinner table and broke bread with a known backstabber. In so many words, Jesus told Judas, “You’re going to turn on me for some pocket money, but I’m OK with that. I still love you and I’m still going to die for you.”

That’s amazing, but his ability to love beyond the pain didn’t stop there. When he was arrested and handed over to Pilate, his best friend Peter denied ever knowing him. On several occasions, people approached him about their association with Jesus and told, “I never knew the man.” All these people were giving up on Jesus, but he never gave up on them. Even as he was stripped of his clothes, spit upon, and struck in the head; forgiveness was still in his heart.

What’s so good about Good Friday? The fact that Jesus never hesitated to die for those who hurt him deeply and he chose to die for me is what’s good about “Good Friday.”

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.'” – John 11:25-26

See God as a Good Father

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. – Luke 15:31

Faith is believing that we have a good God, and that He protects and provides for those who trust in Him. Remember the parable of the prodigal son? (Luke 15:11–32) Jesus shared it to illustrate how good our heavenly Father is. The wayward son had squandered his father’s inheritance before he decided to go home to ask his father to make him a hired servant. But before he could reach home, his father saw him from afar, ran toward him and embraced him. And instead of making him a hired servant, the father turned to his servants and said, “Bring out the best robe! Get a ring and sandals for my son! Let’s kill the fatted calf and celebrate!”

Now, when the older son returned from work and heard about the celebration, he became angry and refused to enter the house. When his father came out to ask him what was wrong, the older son complained, “Look, I’ve served you all these years. Yet, you never gave me a calf to celebrate with my friends. But as soon as this prodigal son of yours comes home, you kill the fatted calf for him!” Notice what his father told him: “Son, you are always with me and all that I have is yours. We should celebrate because your brother was dead but is alive again. He was lost but is now found.”

Can you see how the older brother perceived his father? He saw his father as a hard and stingy man. He believed that he had to work to get something good from his father. He didn’t realize that he already had an inheritance! He could have killed the fatted calf any time for a celebration! Like the father in the parable, God has already given you an inheritance in Christ. Don’t fail to enjoy it by doubting God’s goodness or by believing that you must work for it. See your Father’s heart of love and goodness toward you, and celebrate your inheritance today!

Do good always

A man was walking down the beach at sunset. As he walked along, he saw another man in the distance. He noticed this man kept leaning down, picking up something and throwing it out into the water, again and again. As, he approached even closer, he noticed that the man was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach. He was throwing them back into the water, one by one.

Puzzled, he approached the man and said, “Good Evening. I was wondering what you are doing.” “I’m throwing these starfish back into the ocean. You see, it’s low tide and all these starfish have been washed up onto the shore. If, I don’t throw them back into the ocean, they’ll die up here from lack of oxygen.”

“But, there must be thousands of starfish on this beach. You can’t possible get to all of them. And, don’t you realize this is probably happening on hundreds of beaches all up and down this coast. Can’t you see that you can’t possibly make a difference?”

The man bent down and picked up yet another starfish, and threw it back into the ocean. With a smile he replied, “Made a difference to that one!!!”

Just remember, no matter how small the deed it really does makes a difference. Make a difference today. Do something nice for someone else, even if it’s just sending this card to a friend and letting them know somebody cares about them.

God Works for Your Good

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” – Romans 8:28

God has a plan to take every adversity and every hardship you go through and use it. He’s not going to beat you down and make your life miserable. No, God’s dream is to take that difficulty and supernaturally turn it around and use it to bring you good. He will use those tough times to bring you out stronger, more mature and prepared for promotion! Goodness, mercy and unfailing love are God’s plan for you!

You may not understand everything that’s going on in your life right now, but I encourage you to keep your head held high. Know that God is working in your life. Keep being faithful. Keep doing the right thing, knowing that in the end God is going to turn things around in your favor. If God is for you, who can be against you? No one. Greater is the One who is in you than anyone who can be against you. No matter what’s going on around you today, you can put your shoulders back and put a smile on your face because God is working things together for your good because He loves you!

Plan for Good

“Those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness” – Proverbs 14:22

Do you wake up every morning expecting favor and blessing on everything you do? Do you plan for what is good? When we plan for what is good, the scripture tells us that we find love. We know that God is love which means that when we plan for what is good, we will find God in the midst of our plans.

Today, don’t let the negative voices of the world steal your focus or get you off course. Don’t start planning for a bad day; choose to plan for good. The scripture doesn’t say, “Plan for good as long as the economy is booming.” It doesn’t say, “Plan for good as long as the housing market is strong.” It doesn’t say, “Plan for good as long as you aren’t facing any adversity.” No, we can plan for good because we serve a God who is good, and He is ready, willing and able to bring us through any adversity we face! Boldly plan for good today and watch God show up in the midst of your plans!