No Greater Love

~ John 15:13

During our breakfast devotional this morning, we were discussing Good Friday (tomorrow) and Resurrection Sunday (Easter). As we discussed this, I asked our sons, "Why did the Apostle Paul say to the Corinthians, 'For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.' "? (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Why did the Apostle Paul say this? Why did He say that he decided to know NOTHING, except Christ crucified? My youngest son answered first and said, "So that we would remember that Sunday is coming." Then my oldest son answered, "It was so we would remember that we had to be ransomed. A price had to be paid for our salvation." Bingo! What wise sons I have!

God always makes things so simple and clear.

Jesus was, and is still, the best communicator. He took God's word, and all it's mysteries, and made it clear and simple so that His disciples could understand and apply God's precious word to their lives.

So often in Christendom, during this time of year, we only hear about the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But rarely do we hear about His suffering and brutal crucifixion; the ransom that was paid. I'm not sure why this is. But I think it has something to do with the fact that we all, as human beings, like to feel good. We want to be happy. All the time.

We don't want to be angry, we don't want to be sad, we don't want to be anything but happy. I believe it's part of our human nature and also part of the little deceptions that we as a Church allow to enter our minds and hearts, all because it makes "sense" to us. It is the ultimate desire of our flesh.

But in Scripture, we see that sorrow, is a good thing. Pain is a good thing. Sorrow reminds us that sin is desperately wicked and causes great heartache, both to the person committing the sin and to others around them; and more importantly grieves the heart of our Creator and it is what crucified our Savior. Pain reminds us that something more serious and more injurious will happen if we don't stop doing whatever it is that is currently causing us pain. Both sorrow and pain are gifts from God; merciful and gentle warnings that call us to repent from our current course, and turn to Him so that we might truly be fulfilled with all that is good; God

God alone is good and God alone is the Judge and the Justifer. I praise the Lord for revealing this truth!

"It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be Just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law."

~Romans 3:26-31