1. The unrest that has gripped so much of the world in recent months (think Lybia, Egypt, Syria, Mali and the Central African Republic - just to name a few) has made me thankful for the stability and peace that we enjoy here in the United States. This is something that we cannot or should not take for granted. The Apostle Paul expresses God's will "that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). So let's be sure as we pray, to pray for our President, members of Congress, U.S. Supreme Court justices, Governor and other elected state officials, county and local officials as well. In doing so, we prove obedient to Scripture and will experience God's blessing.
2. Recently I watched my name sake (2 1/2 year old grandson John), not want to share a toy he was enjoying with one of his cousins. His mom talked to him about this. What she said to him got me thinking. She said something along this line, "Jack, are you going to put things above people?" She then went on to explain to him in "twoyearoldeese" that people are more important than the things we want to hold onto (in this case a toy), and that we need to learn to share our things in order to show that the one we are sharing with is more important to us than whatever the "thing" might be that has our attention. There's wisdom in that for us adults. I wonder how many of us sacrifice relationships in order to attain things. Listen, my friends, the things of this world will one day be gone, but the souls of people are eternal. So let's get our priorities straight - people before things; relationships before stuff.
3. Today is GOOD FRIDAY. But did you ever wonder why the day that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Creator of the world, Lord of lords and King of kings was crucified is referred to as "good?" Although the happenings of that day were quite wicked, evil and dark . . . the outcome could not be brighter! For on that day, God's Son faced God's wrath so that we would not have to (Romans 5:8; 6:23; 1 Peter 3:18). In laying down his life for us (and there is no greater act of love than that - John 15:13), Jesus attained for us what we could have never attained on our own - a relationship with the one true and living God. So on this Good Friday, please take some time to reflect on the awesome sacrifice of Jesus for us! And worship the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) and in so doing, opens for us the gates of heaven (John 14:1-3)!
Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj
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