The death of Jesus was the atonement that brought reconciliation between God and man. Jesus offered Himself to pay the price for our sins, to satisfy the wrath of God’s judgment on sin, and to open the way to forgiveness of sins. No greater picture of love and forgiveness can be found. The sacrifice of God in sending Jesus and the sacrifice of Jesus in dying for us is the greatest love and forgiveness we will ever receive.
A Day of Atonement, A Day of Reconciliation
Is there a relationship in your life that needs reconciling? On this day when we remember what Jesus did for us on the cross, consider the cost of reconciliation. God deemed it necessary to restore us to right relationship with Him. Jesus suffered the most excruciating death — not only the pain and suffering of the cross, but also the weight of the sins of all mankind, and God’s righteous judgment poured out upon Him. Consider what He did for you, then ask yourself…
Is there anything He cannot ask of you?
Think of all He did for you, and yet all He asks is that we love Him with our whole heart, mind and soul and love our neighbors as ourselves.
Most of us find it very easy to love Jesus. After all, He gave His life for us. What a blessing and the greatest of all gifts. But how about loving others as ourselves? There are three important questions we all need ask ourselves.
How do you answer these three question?
- Is there someone in your life you need to reconcile with?
- Can you show the kind of sacrificial love Jesus has for you to that person?
- Are you willing to reconcile broken or suffering relationships in your life?
If you answered, yes, to question number one, then you also need to answer yes to the other two questions. Jesus doesn’t ask you to consider it, He tells you to do so.
2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.
Remember, Jesus loved you when you were unworthy of his love. He reconciled you to Himself. Commit today, on this Good Friday March 29, 2013, to remember HIs sacrifice for you. He not only gave HIs life, but He also gave it in a brutally painful and humiliating manner. He was whipped and scourged, mocked and tormented, after being betrayed by one who He loved. Crucifixion was a horrendous form of death.
Today honor the One Who gave His all for you, by loving with the same kind of sacrificial love that He had for us — a love that reconciles and makes all things new.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
“Forgiving one another” is a gospel command. You might be thinking that it is a difficult command, but He promises to strengthen us as we do His will.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Bless someone in your life. Reconcile today and make right any relationships in your life that suffer or are broken. The day may come when it will be too late.
Let this Easter weekend be a new beginning. You’ll feel the love of Christ and experience a joy of self-sacrifice and a conformity to His death (Philippians 3:10) that will enable you to more fully know the power of His death, burial and resurrection.
Remember what it cost the Lord Jesus Christ to reconcile you to the Father. And, offer yourself to His service, a willing ambassador of His love on this earth. It will change your life….for your good and His glory.
On this day of remembrance of His death, Good Friday March 29, 2013, may all who read this be convicted and moved to love Him more and to live in the light of His love and the promise of His hope.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
