Morning Devotional 041522 In Our Place

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

April 15, 2022

Read Romans 8:14-17

14 All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons and daughters. 15 You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children. With this Spirit, we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The same Spirit agrees with our spirit, that we are God’s children. 17 But if we are children, we are also heirs. We are God’s heirs and fellow heirs with Christ, and if we really suffer with him we can also be glorified with him.

Good Morning, We will walk with each other, hand in hand, as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

Today is Good Friday. We recognize this day as the day that Christ was crucified. For a moment, place yourself there in Jerusalem. Engage your senses in the sights, sounds, and smells that you would encounter as you walked through town. Maybe because I’ve watched too many westerns in my life, I imagine a carnival-type atmosphere with people milling around, vendors shouting to sell their goods, and of course, the smells that accompany a town of this time period burn my nose.

The shouts of the crowd, “Crucify Him” still ring in my ears. What is going on? Can’t they see the Messiah standing before them? I see Christ stumble as he carries his heavy load. Imagine He is not only lugging this cross but all of our sins as well. I can’t look as they pound the nails into His flesh. How agonizing this is? When they lift him up, I want to run away, but I am compelled to stand by His side. As the skies darken, I feel the tears filling my eyes. What will we (the poor, the outcasts, the weak) do without Jesus? Just yesterday, we were so hopeful for this new world order, and now it’s all over. . .

Of course, we have the benefit of knowing the rest of the story, but for now, take time to focus on Jesus and His choice to suffer in our places. In His greatest moment of grief, Jesus cried out, “Abba, Father”. Through Christ, we too may call to God who is listening to our needs and is ready to lead us.

Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. We once were lost, but now we’re found. Through Your amazing grace, we are saved. Thank You! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Abba, Father! Pastor Liz