God of Restoration

 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more - Psalm 71:20,21.

“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal,” declares the Lord, “because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’” - Jeremiah 30:17.

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before - Job 42:10.

Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy - Isaiah 61:7.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit - Psalm 51:12.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake - Psalm 23:3.

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double - Zechariah 9:12.

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame - Joel 2:25-26.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you - 1 Peter 5:10.

I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful. Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit - Jeremiah 31:4,5.

                                              

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are the Lord of Restoration. We thank You for restoring us everything we have lost. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Mind of The Lord

 For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? - Romans 11:34.

                 No one knows the mind of the Lord. But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord, Nor do they understand His counsel - Micah 4:12. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God - 1 Corinthians 2:11. The Spirit of God that is in us will teach us all things. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things - John 14:26.

               God’s thoughts and ways are always higher than our thoughts and ways. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts - Isaiah 55:8,9. His mind and thoughts are beyond our comprehension. Let us commit all our ways to the Lord. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass - Psalm 37:5.

               God reveals His plans and mind to us through His Word. His Word is the lamp to our feet and light to our path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path - Psalm 119:105. It always leads us into the path of righteousness. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye - Psalm 32:8. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding - Proverbs 3:5.                                                 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Show us Your ways and teach us Your paths. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Begin To Sing And Praise

 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! (Psalm 47:6).

                Praise makes the enemies to flee. The enemies He appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated - 2 Chronicles 20:21, 22.

               The power of God was displayed when Paul and Silas sang hymns and praised God. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed - Acts 16:25,26.

           Jericho fell down as the people began to praise God. So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat - Joshua 6:20. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth - Psalm 34:1. Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day - Psalm 96:1,2.

                                                     

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We sing praises and bless Your name. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Setting The Lord Before Us

 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved - Psalm 16:8.

               David always set the Lord before him. We will never be moved and rest in hope when we set the Lord always before us. I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope - Psalm 16:8,9.

              Peter was walking on water as long as his eyes are upon God. He began to sink when he saw the wind. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” - Matthew 14:29, 30. But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord; In You I take refuge - Psalm 141:8. 

             Let us set the Lord always before us who delivers us and honors us. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation - Psalm 91:14-16.

                                                     

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us always set You before us in our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Not one of them will be able to withstand you

 Not one of them will be able to withstand you - Joshua 10:8.

                Joshua was at Gilgal in the land of Gibeon and all the five neighboring kings  of Amorites formed an alliance and attacked Israel. Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it - Joshua 10:5.  The Lord told Joshua not to be afraid of them and promised him that not one of them will be able to stand against him. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you”- Joshua 10:8.

               The Lord fought for Israel. The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon - Joshua 10:10. The Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword - Joshua 10:11. So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel - Joshua 10:13,14.

               The Lord who fought for Israel will fight for us and enable us to face all that comes our way. No one can come against us as God is for us. If God is for us, who can stand against us?  - Romans 8:31. We are more than conquerors and victorious by His power. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us - Romans 8:37. Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God Himself will fight for you - Deuteronomy 3:22.

                                              

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for fighting for us and leading us in victory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Peter, The Rock of The Church

 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it - Matthew 16:18.

                   Peter is the first to gather the disciples together to select a replacement for Judas. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples and said, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry - Acts 1:15-17. And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles - Acts 1:26. He became one of the first leaders of the church.

              Peter preached the first gospel message on the day of Pentecost and 3000 souls were saved. When he preached, about three thousand people were baptized and added to the church - Acts 2:41. He preaching boldly before the Sanhedrin in the face of great opposition. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it - Acts 4:13,14. He shared the gospel with Cornelius and his family. He also preached about the gift of the Holy Spirit and baptism to the gentiles.

               Peter was used mightily by God in the ministry of healing. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength - Acts 3:6,7. They brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them - Acts 5:14.

                                                     

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us boldly preach the gospel to all the people. Use us mightily for Your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

He Is Lord of All

 He is Lord of all - Acts 10:36.

                  Christ who has risen from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father is the Lord of all. He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come - Ephesians 1:20-22.

               Jesus was highly exalted and was given the name above every name as He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death. God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father - Philippians 2:9-11.

               Let every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles - Malachi 1:11. This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it - the Lord is his name - Jeremiah 33:2.

                                                  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are the Lord of all. We worship and praise Your name. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

God Raised Him From The Dead

 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved - Romans 10:9.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you - 1 Peter 1:3-4.

Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us - Romans 8:34.

For as by a man came death, by a man has come the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive - 1 Corinthians 15:21-22.

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him - Romans 6:9.

Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead - Colossians 2:12.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus - Romans 6:8-11.

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep - 1 Thessalonians 4:14.

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his - Romans 6:4-5.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life”. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live - John 11:25.

And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power - 1 Corinthians 6:14.

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ - 1 Corinthians 15:55-57.               

The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us and has given us eternal life. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life - 1 John 5:11,12.      

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God - 1 Peter 1:21.     

I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades - Revelation 1:18.

Because I live, you will live also - John 14:19.  

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth - Job 19:25.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep - 1 Corinthians 15:20.

He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said - 1 Corinthians 15:4. 

                                                     

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for the living hope You have given us through Your resurrection. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Lord, What Do You Want Me To Do?

                  So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” – Acts 9:6.

          God spoke to Saul who persecuted the early Christians with a vision. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” - Acts 9:3-5. As soon as Saul was met by the Lord, he asked Him what He wants him to do and started doing great things for Him. Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do - Acts 9:6.  

              Saul who was converted as Paul never stopped asking God what He wants Him to do from the start of the ministry till the end and got His guidance every time. Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them - Acts 16:6,7.

             Let us also ask God what He want us to do and carry out the mission with His guidance. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long - Psalm 25:4-5. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me - Galatians 2:20.

                                                 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Make us to know Your ways. Lead us, teach us and guide us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Simon, Do You Love Me?

 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you" - John 21:15.

               Jesus asked Peter three times whether he love Him after he denied three times. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep - John 21:15-17.

               Jesus told Peter to feed and take care of His sheep. He also told to follow Him. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me” - John 21:19. When he preached, about three thousand people were baptized and added to the church - Acts 2:41. Peter who denied the Lord three times accepted the call of God and served Him. Also, Peter is the first apostle to see the risen Lord. The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon! - Luke 24:34.

               God chooses the weak people to do great things for Him. Peter who denied the Lord three times was used mightily by God. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty - 1 Corinthians 1:27. Let us love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind more than anything else in the world and serve Him.

                                          

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us love You more and feed Your sheep. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Two Disciples On The Emmaus Road

 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” - Luke 24:32.

                Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection. The two disciples were conversing with each other about the things that had taken place. They did not recognize that it is Jesus who joined and began traveling with them. And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were conversing with each other about all these things which had taken place. And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing, Jesus himself approached, and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him (Luke 24:13-16).

          The two disciples poured out their hearts to Him about how they hoped that Jesus would redeem Israel. Jesus explained to them about the scriptures concerning Himself. He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself - Luke 24:25-27.

              Jesus stayed with them and they recognized Him when He gave bread to them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight - Luke 24:30,31. Like the two disciples, let us cast all our anxieties to the Lord who listens to us. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you - 1 Peter 5:7. May God open our eyes to see the wonderful things in His Word. Open my eyes that I may see Wondrous things in your law - Psalm 119:18.

                                             

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Walk with us. Open our eyes and hearts to see the wondrous things in Your Word. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Because I Live You Will Live Also

         Because I live, you will live also - John 14:19.  

               Jesus is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep and His resurrection promises that there is a great hope for all those die in Him. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive - 1 Corinthians 15:19-22.

                Jesus has conquered death and so death has lost its sting and the grave has lost its victory. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ - 1 Corinthians 15:55-57. He is the resurrection and life who brings resurrection and life to those who believe Him. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. - John 11:25, 26.

                 The same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us as His Spirit lives in us. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you - Romans 8:11. For all those who believe in Him, death is like falling asleep and waking up in eternity with Him. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death - Revelation 1:18.

                                                       

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for giving us the gift of eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Go Quickly And Tell

                And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him - Matthew 28:7.

                Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb to anoint the dead body of their Lord. They saw that the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” - Matthew 28:5,6.

                The angel also instructed them to go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead. So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word - Matthew 28:8. The Women then met the risen Lord as they went to tell His disciples and worshiped Him. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me - Matthew 28:9, 10.

                Jesus came and spoke about the great commission to the disciples when they were in Galilee. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen - Mathew 28: 19,20. Let us go quickly and tell about our risen Lord to all the people in the world.                                           

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us go quickly and tell others about You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

He Has Risen Just As He Said

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.- Matthew 28:6.

              The prophecy that Jesus will be risen in the third day was fulfilled. The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again - Luke 24:7. He is risen from the dead as He said. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive - 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.

           Christ having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him - Romans 6:9. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit -1 Peter 3:18. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him - Acts 2:24. He conquered death and was victorious over the grave. “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" - I Corinthians 15:55.

            Let us praise our risen Lord as we are born again to a living hope through His resurrection. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead - 1 Peter 1:3-5. The same spirit that resurrected Jesus and gave life dwells in us. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you - Romans 8:11.

                                      

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for giving us a living hope through Your resurrection. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Seven Words On The Cross

 There they crucified him, and with him two others - one on each side and Jesus in the middle - John 19:18.

1. Forgiveness

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” - Luke 23:34.

2. Assurance

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” - Luke 23:43.

3. Compassion

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” - John 19:26.

4. Loneliness

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” - Matthew 27:46.

5. Obedience

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” - John 19:28.

6. Victory

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit - John 19:30.

7. Submission

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last - Luke 23:46.  

                                               

                                                     

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for Your obedience to God till the death on the cross to redeem us, save us and to give us an eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

He Laid Down His Life For Us

 He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed - 1 Peter 2:24.

                 Christ laid down His life out of His great love for us. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us - 1 John 3:16. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us - Romans 5:8. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends - John 15:13. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep - John 10:11.

                 Christ laid down His life that we might live. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us - 1 Corinthians 5:7. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him - 1 John 4:9. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again - 2 Corinthians 5:15.     

                 Let us thank God who destroyed the works of devil through His death and who laid down His life for us with love. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work - 1 John 3:8. Through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil - Hebrews 2:14. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross - Philippians 2:8.

                                              

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank for Your great love towards us and sacrificing Your life for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Words of Rest

 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last - Luke 23:46.

                    The seventh and the last word of Jesus on the cross was “Father, Into Your hands I commit My spirit." Jesus committed His spirit into the hands of Father before His death on the cross. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth - Psalm 31:5. The life of Jesus which is a perfect sacrifice for us is placed in the hands of God.

              Jesus fulfilled the mission the Father assigned to Him and committed His spirit. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father - John 16:28. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God - Hebrews 12:2.           

                Let us commit our life into the loving hand of God and serve Him faithfully. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday - Psalm 37:5,6. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? - Hebrews 9:14.

                                            

PRAYER: Dear Lord. We commit our life into Your hands. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Words of Victory

 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit - John 19:30.

            The sixth word of Jesus on the cross is "It is finished". Jesus came down to earth from heaven to save us and do the will of God. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many - Mark 10:45. I can of Myself do nothing. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me - John 6:38.

              Because of God’s finished work of salvation, we have a living hope both in this world and eternally. He had paid the price for our sins. Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! - John 1:29. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - 1 Timothy 1:15. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins - 1 John 3:5.

              Jesus had finished the task victoriously the Father had sent Him to earth to accomplish. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do - John 17:4. I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me - John 5:30. Let us also finish the purposes and will of God in our life. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me - Psalm 57:2. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me - Psalm 138:8.

                                                         

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for what Your finished work on the cross. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Words of Suffering

 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” - John 19:28.

                 The fifth saying of Jesus on the cross is “I thirst”. They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink - Psalm 69:21. Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth - John 19:29. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death - Psalm 22:15.

             Jesus who suffered great thirst on the cross, thirsts for souls too. I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty - John 6:35. If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from him - John 7:37, 38. For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring - Isaiah 44:3.

                 Let us hunger and thirst more for God and His presence. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? - Psalm 42:1,2. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled - Mathew 5:6. I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God - Psalm 69:3.                                          

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us thirst more for You and let our heart thirst for souls to be saved. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Words of Anguish

 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” – Mathew 27:46.

               There was darkness upon all the land from the 6th hour until the 9th hour. About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli Eli, Lama Sabachthani” which means “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me”. He was separated from His Father because of our sins. Surely, He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities - Isaiah 53:4,5.

               Jesus was forsaken by everyone and even by His disciples. And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save - Matthew 27:39-42. Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing - Matthew 27:44. Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled - Mathew 26:56.

              Let us thank God who went through the period of separation from His Father for our sake and His great love for us. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins - 1 John 4:10. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us - Romans 5:8. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us - 1 Peter 2:24.  

   

                                          

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We trust Your promise that You will never leave us nor forsake us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel

 “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” - Luke 12: 13.

                 Jesus told His disciples to untie the donkey and bring it to Him when entering the Jerusalem. Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here - Mark 11:2,3. The disciples brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.

                People spread palm branches, garments and shouted Hosanna. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!" - Matthew 21:8-9. They welcomed him as their victorious Savior, taking palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!" - John 12:13.

               Jesus rode into the Jerusalem victoriously and triumphantly as a conquered king. Let us praise the Lord God our Savior and proclaim our victorious king to the entire world. Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey - Zechariah 9:9.                                               

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are the victorious king. We praise You and bless Your name. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Words of Tenderness

 He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!”. John 19:26-27.

                   Jesus addressed third word to his mother Mary and John, the disciple whom he loved. Mary submitted herself to the will of God since the birth of Jesus till His death on the cross. Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” - Luke 1:38.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart - Luke 2:19. His mother kept all these things in her heart - Luke 2:51.

                 Mary’s soul was painfully pierced when she saw all the sufferings of Jesus on the cross. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed - Luke 2:34, 35.

                  Jesus committed Mary to the care of the disciple he loved the most. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother." And from that hour John took Mary to his own home and obeyed what Jesus told him to do. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever - 1 Timothy 5:8. Honor your father and mother - Ephesians 6:2.                                       

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Help us to honor and care our parents. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.  

Words of Salvation

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” - Luke 23:43.

             The second Word of God on cross spoken by Jesus is a word of salvation. Jesus was crucified on the cross between two thieves. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left - Luke 23:33. Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors - Isaiah 53:12.  

              One of the thieves hanged on the cross blasphemed Jesus whereas the other thief was saved on the cross. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? - Luke 23:40. The other thief recognized that Jesus is sinless and He is the Savior. And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong - Luke 23:41.

              The thief on the left asked Jesus to save him and told to remember him when he comes into His kingdom. He believed in a future life and in judgment. The thief said to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” - Luke 23:42. Jesus promised the thief that he would be in paradise and offered him the eternal life on the cross. And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” - Luke 23:43. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” - Romans 10:13.                                              

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for saving us by Your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Words of Forgiveness

            Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34.

                The first word of Jesus from the cross is “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Jesus teaches us about forgiveness in the Lord's prayer. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us - Matthew 6:12. When asked by Peter, how many times should we forgive someone, Jesus answered seventy times seven - Matthew 18:21-22. If we forgive people when they sin against us, our heavenly Father will also forgive us. - Matthew 6:12, 13.

              He forgives all our sins and remembers no more. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more - Jeremiah 31:34. Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases - Psalm 103:1-3. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace - Ephesians 1:7.

             Let us forgive others just as Christ had forgiven us. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you - Ephesians 4:31-32. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you - Mathew 5:44.

                                                            

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Help us to forgive others just as You have forgiven us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.