Tomb of Christ at Risk of ‘Catastrophic’ Collapse. https://tiny.iavian.net/fwj3

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself – 2 Timothy 2:11‭-‬13 

Lord, my Lord, I have died with You so Your promise is that I will live with You…forever. Thank You as well that I’ve been promised that if my faith fails, if I am weak and falter,  You will remain faithful to me in my faithlessness. This is true because I am united with You and You cant deny Yourself. My destiny is guaranteed in You. 

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. – Hebrews 12:3‭-‬4 

Lord, when I am tired in the midst of struggling against unrighteousness may I consider You. When I’m weary in my own struggles with sin may I consider You. When my heart gives out from the battle for Your kingdom may I consider You. As I consider You I need to remember a few things.  You resisted sinful man unto death, dying unjustly. You resisted sin unto the cross, dying to make us just. My resistance is but a fraction of Yours. I’ve an endured a fragment of what you’ve endured. May I gain courage and inspiration as I consider You. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1‭-‬2 ESV

Today Lord I’m focusing on You. I’m in a race, a marathon. There are a cloud of witnesses who have run the race before me. I’m dropping the weights and sin that trips me up. I see You at the finish line. You are the goal. And you are my Perfect Example. You endured the cross though You despised the shame.  Now You are rewarded with the seat at the right hand of Your Father. So as I run this race I look to You. I’m not looking to my right or left at the other competitors. I look to You. I’m not focusing on the fatigue or distant to the end. I look to You. 

 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. – Isaiah 53:4-6

My Lord, The ugliness of this season is all to clear. Isaiah speaks primarily not of Your seen suffering of the wrath of man but of Your unseen suffering of the wrath of God. Being smitten by God, being pierced for our transgression and being crushed for our iniquities speaks of a nearly unbearable pain. As we read that Your punishment brought us peace and Your wounds brought us healng we are reminded of why You needed to do it. The mess that is us. Like stinky directionless smelly sheep we have gone astray. Everything that was wrong with us was loaded on to You. We are now standing in grace and forgiveness. Wow. What a Savior You are.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. – 2 Corinthians 5:14‭-‬15 ESV

Lord please forgive me when I am not contrained or controlled by Your love. I tend to live for myself rather than for You, the One who died for me and rose again. I have a propensity for selfishness, to seek only  what I want. My sinfulness expressed by my selfishness has caused my life to have the problems it has. My mess is  caused by my messiness. I need more than just forgiveness. I need deliverance. May I live out the words “therefore all have died” everyday this week by counting my sinful self dead and thus powerless to dominate me. In Your name I pray. Amen.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people…..This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.1 Timothy 2:1‭, ‬3‭-‬6 ESV

God My Savior, What is Your desire, Your divine wish? Is it not that all men be saved and come to the knowlege of the truth?  Not some, all. You made it possible for all men to be saved by sending Jesus to give Himeself a ransom for all. Not some, all. Jesus, Our Mediator, Your Son, provided salvation for all men because You desire all men to be saved. Not some, all. Lord, it is both an obligation and a priviledge for us to partner with You in this divine wish. We must pray for all, preach to all and pay for all to hear Your life changing message of the cross and for them to be saved. Not some, all. May this mission not our mess be our focus. Not some, all. In Jesus name.  Amen.

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. – Philippians 3:17‭-‬19

Heavenly Father, Because of the cross I can choose not to be captivated by earthly thing. Because of the cross I can choose not to glory in the things that are shameful to You. Because of the cross I can choose not to be ruled by my appetites making my belly my god. Because of Your work in me I am a friend of the cross. I embrace what it stands for and I love the Savior who hung there for me. In His name. Amen