Christ Crucified
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Christ Crucified
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For
it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 Where is the wise? Where is the
scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made
foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in
the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God
through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For
Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but
we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks
foolishness, 24 but to those who are called,
both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because
the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger
than men.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is
the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and
also to the Greek.
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you,
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the
wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his
ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and
through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Devotional:
This morning dawns the day in history when we
as believers in Christ reflect on the day he spent lying in the tomb. On this
day, I feel deeply grateful for the work He did, choosing to humble Himself to
overcome the grave on my behalf.
When I reflect on my life, when I think of
all I need to be forgiven, I am reminded of the time when I was apart from Him.
All the while, His tender mercies continued to woo me, to draw me in. I can
remember being lost, lonely, afraid, separated from the peace and joy of His
presence, and today I know that His presence was with me always.
Waiting.
Whispering to me.
Patiently and faithfully holding me until I
was ready to receive Him.
The day I chose to return, He did not wait
for me to get clean to receive me. His arms were wide open. He was gracious and
merciful always. He had already planned for my healing, forgiveness, and
restoration. I was angry, foolish, prideful, selfish. He was kind, merciful,
humble, and loving.
And He is today.
Thanks be to God for His great mercy! Thanks
be to God for His great love! Today is a day that represents in the life of the
believer a reminder that we have a great and loving Father Who desires only to
hold us in His arms and protect us, a just and holy Father Who knows what is
best for us.
Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. Thank You,
Lord.
Prayer:
Father, I am deeply grateful to You for Your
great gift of salvation, of the plan You put in motion to hold me in Your arms.
Jesus, I thank You for your life, Your death, Your burial and ultimately, Your
resurrection. I pray that the impact of these truths would infiltrate and
permeate our hearts and homes today.
I lift up my husband today and ask that he
would have no doubt of Your heart for him. I ask that Your truth would be alive
to him, that Your deity and saving power would be clear and exciting to him.
Father, I lift up my child(ren) and ask that
they would live a life (lives) fully alive to You. I pray that the saving knowledge
of Jesus Christ would be rooted, firm and established in them. I thank You that
You desire to save, and that You have a personal desire to save each person. I
ask that my child(ren) would have a soft heart toward You.
I pray for our home to be peaceful,
harmonious and loving.
In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.
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