NO ACCIDENT

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“This was no accident" - Mark Brooks

“Jesus’ death was not the result of a panicking cosmological engineer. The cross wasn’t a tragic surprise. Calvary was not a knee-jerk response to a world plummeting toward destruction. It wasn’t a patch-up job or a stop-gap measure. The death of the Son of God was anything but an unexpected peril.

No it was part of an incredible plan.

A calculated choice.

The moment the forbidden fruit touched the lips of Eve, the shadow of a cross appeared on the horizon. And between that moment and the moment the man with the mallet placed the spike against the wrist of God, a master plan was fulfilled.

“The sinless One took on the face of a sinner so that we sinners could take on the face of a saint.”

So call it what you wish: An act of grace. A plan of redemption. A martyr's sacrifice. But whatever you call it, don't call it an accident.

It was anything but that.”                                            Author Unknown…

As GOOD FRIDAY approaches I thought it fitting to “prep” us a little for the weekend to come.  With one more cycle of the sun, another turn of the clock we will be to “that Friday”; that Friday when everything changed.

Looming in the distance waiting for one more move of the calendar is the CROSS. And no, while the story will seemingly unfold randomly and chaotically over the course of the next several hours it was anything but random or chaotic. 

God’s plan was clear. 

Ephesians 1:4:6

Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

You see GOD has always loved us.

Christ was His gift, His expression of love for us all so we can now experience life and fellowship with Him forever as His family.

John 1:1-5

Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it.

My friends thanks to the CROSS we have been given the gift of life in spite of all of our imperfections, our silly habits, our continuous failures and fallibility.  We have been granted grace from the hand of one who was sinless and pure, loving and full of life. We have been given LIFE from one who was ready from before the time He spoke “LET THERE BE LIGHT” to give completely of His LIGHT and LIFE for us. 

That is overwhelming. 

Takes your breath away doesn’t it? 

It should.

Romans 5:8

But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.

You see...no accident.

 

I love you all!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney