Friday is the most confusing and distressing day of Easter weekend. It was a tough week just getting to this point, but to realize that Christ actually endures crucifixion is truly unthinkable on so many levels. In the process of dealing with this grueling reality, we can miss the biggest message of the day ~ GRACE.
Crucifixion Friday was not about death; it was about a gift, an unfathomable gift of grace.
grace ~ 1) favor or goodwill 2) a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior 3) mercy, clemency, parden 4) the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God
If we say we are followers of Christ, then are we not called to act as followers? Thank God in heaven, we are not asked to endure an actual crucifixion, Jesus did that work for us, but are we not called to place our sinful behavior on the cross? Are we not called to put our selfish desires, pettiness, past hurts, controlling natures and all the other destructive attitudes and actions on the cross and extend grace to our spouse?
Grace. God's grace flowed from His Love for us, and our offering of grace to our spouse comes from our devotion to Christ. It will not flow naturally from our human love because we are flawed. It will only flow as a gift enabled by the Holy Spirit. That's why forgiveness is so hard when we try to do it in our own flesh. As Believers, don't we owe our spouse the Grace of Christ? We didn't earn His grace ~ should our spouse have to earn ours?
(Luke 22:26-43)
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