LifeLink Devotional

Thursday, April 2, 2020

People hurt us. We hurt people. We are much more likely to focus on the first of those truths rather than the second. In fact, we even dare to justify our hurt of others because they hurt us first.

Some hurts go deep, and last a long time. Forgiveness and reconciliation become distant ideologies because the root of bitterness as become a towering tree under which we find shelter. Why would I possibly want to forgive the person who did something so horrible to me?

This first of seven sayings of Jesus from the cross shows that He was thinking of others until the end of His life.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).

Even while experiencing the horrible pain of crucifixion, He was praying for the very people who caused His suffering. He came to earth for the purpose of forgiving sinners and He loved them and forgave them up until the end.

Isaiah prophesied these words of Jesus on the cross.

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12

The great thing which Christ died to purchase and procure for us is the forgiveness of sin. It was His heart of love for sinners that brought Him to the cross.  Forgiveness is the foundation of Christ’s intercession for us. His shed blood on the cross speaks this: Father, forgive them. The greatest sinners may, through Christ, upon their repentance, find mercy.

His intercession for sinners includes the fact that we are ignorant of His eternal plan. “They know not what they are doing.” We must pray for our enemies and those that hate and persecute us in the same way. We must exonerate their offences, and not aggravate them. We must be sincere with God in prayer for the forgiveness of their sins, their sins against us. This is Christ’s example even while suffering the immediate effects of their judgment. If Christ loved and prayed for such enemies, what enemies can we have that we are not obliged to love and pray for?

So today, begin this way:

1. Come to the Father with your pain.
2. Ask the Father for the grace and mercy of Christ to forgive others.
3. Bring the one who caused your pain to the Father.
4. Ask the Father to forgive them.
5. Go and do an act of kindness for that person, showing them the love of Jesus who sacrificed His life as an act of kindness for us.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotional

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

The last words of people we admire tend to be important to us. Whatever grandpa said to us before he died sticks with us for the rest of our life. Famous people have said some really important things before they died, while others have said crazy stuff.

Elvis Presley’s last words were, “I’m going to the bathroom to read.” Not necessarily words to live by.

Henry Ford said, “I’ll sleep well tonight.”

Winston Churchill spoke bluntly and said, “I’m bored with it all.”

Movie star Joan Crawford yelled at her housekeeper, “Don’t you dare ask God to help me.”

Last words can reveal our hopes, our disbeliefs, and our beliefs. Last words may be an indication of what is most important to us. Last words can expose the true nature of our heart.

While Jesus was nailed to the cross and had breath in Him, he spoke seven times, and each one reveals His nature of love and His purpose for coming to earth. We get a clear picture of the Redemptive purpose of God in the last words of Jesus. Starting tomorrow, through Good Friday, we will look into the last words of Jesus and discover love and hope.

Here’s a thought for you from something Jesus said before being nailed to the cross. He is standing before Pilate who is questioning Him about what He has done that is deserving of the judgment requested by the Jewish religious leaders. Listen to what Jesus says in John 18:36-37^.

“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus declares three things:

1. He is the King of a Kingdom that is not of this world.
2. He came to this earth for the sole purpose of declaring the truth of this spiritual kingdom to the people of the world.
3. Everyone who is called to His kingdom will listen to His voice and live according to the principles of the spiritual kingdom and not to build an earthly kingdom.

Think on these things. Review your standing with Christ. Contemplate His calling and how you are living in obedience to it.

Listen to the voice of Jesus. He alone is the voice of truth.

Pastor John