REMEMBERING WHAT THE LORD DID FOR US

SCRIPTURE:
"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we 
are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.” 
(1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

MEDITATION:
Death is a reality that everyone will face, 
unless the rapture preempts this event in their lives.
However, it a topic that few want to discuss.

In one biography of the great American, Daniel Webster, 
863 pages deal with his career and just five pages are devoted to his death. 
In Hay’s life of Abraham Lincoln, there are 5,000 pages 
but only 25 are devoted to the dramatic story of his assassination and death. 
In most biographies the deaths of the subjects 
are mere incidents at the close of the books.

But when it comes to the death of Jesus, it is quite different.
The four “biographies” of Jesus (the four Gospels) 
spend a lot of time on His death.
One-third of Matthew is about the description of the death of Christ.
One-third of Mark, one-fourth of Luke, 
and one-half of John are about His death.
All these pages are devoted to the last 24 hours of His life.

The death of Jesus Christ is a significant fact in human history, 
because Jesus Christ came for the express purpose of dying for sinners. 
When He left heaven, He knew He was going to the cross.
But due to His great love for us, He willingly suffered and died for us.

For mankind, death means the end of life as we know it.
But the death of Jesus meant the beginning of life for everyone.
It is paradoxical reality that we must accept and believe 
if we want to be with Him at the end of our earthly journey.
Jesus provided the venue for eternal life for those who have 
faith in Him, His existence, His sacrifice for us, and His resurrection.

ACTION:
How has the sacrifice of Jesus impacted your life?
Do you have an intellectual belief, or has your heart and life been changed?
When Jesus changes our hearts, we have a new desire 
to not only become obedient to His desires for us, 
but we also have a yearning to see others have faith in Him as well.

As Christians, we are empowered 
with at least one spiritual gift and are indwelled with the Holy Spirit 
so that we can become part of His ‘ministry team’ on earth.
Some have been given a spiritual gift that causes them to be in prominent 
positions, but others are given a gift that is used in a less visible way.
No matter what spiritual gift you have been given, 
it is as equally important as those given to other believers.
However, none of the spiritual gifts are effective if they are not used.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your plan of salvation. I deserve Your 
judgment, but through the death of Jesus, I have been given the opportunity 
to receive Your forgiveness and eternal life. Help me to have much more 
than just an intellectual knowledge of historical facts. Show me how to let 
the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice permeate my heart so deeply that I have 
a desire to seek and to use the spiritual gift I received at salvation to 
serve You. Give me the confidence that with the Holy Spirit guiding me, 
I can do whatever You have called me to do.”