WIELDING OF AUTHORITY

"It is no wonder that there are so many pitfalls in the exercising of authority; he who wields authority wields a God-given weapon, & he must constantly be on guard lest he misuse it for selfish ends. Authority must never be exercised in an arbitrary, unreasonable manner." J.H. Waterink, Men's Devotional Bible

JESUS MADE SIN?

For He made Him who knew no sin to be siN for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21)

"As Christians we are grateful to be forgiven of our sins. We are thankful we have been adopted as God's children. Yet we will never comprehend the awesome price that Jesus paid to cleanse us of our sin & to give us His righteousness. How abhorrent was it for the sinless Son of God to have every sin of humanity placed upon Him? What love was required for the Father to watch His only Son bear the excruciating pain of our sin upon the cross? . . . The plight of humanity is that nothing we could ever do could satisfy God's desire for righteousness. But the miracle of God's mercy is that God exchanges our 'filthy rags' for 'rich robes' of righteousness (Zech. 3:4).

"In this awesome exchange, God placed the sin of humanity upon His righteous Son. Jesus became so identified with our sin that Scripture says God made Him to be sin on our behalf. The holy Son of God could not possibly do more for us than this! Experiencing the Father's wrath upon the sin He carried would have been more painful to endure than any human rejection or physical suffering. Never take the righteousness God has given you for granted. Never take the forgiveness of your sin lightly. It cost God a terrible price in order to forgive you & make you righteous. Walk in a manner worthy of the righteousness He has given you." [Henry & Richard Blakaby, "Experiencing God Day-By-Day]

WE WAIT IN CERTAINTY

Phil. 3:20  But our citizenship is in heaven, & from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. "For now, we wait in certainty."  Rev. Matthew Harrison, "The Promised Comfort of Heaven," The Lutheran Witness, Nov. 2022

LIFE THOUGHTS

"How remarkable that our Lord's beloved Apostle St. John describes the Gospel of Jesus Christ as 'the Word of Life' (1 John 1:2) He also declares all believers qualify as 'little children (2:1). And he proclaims that God has given His Son to redeem the 'whole word'--every member of the human race, no matter what age, appearance, or ability. Even personal choice or political controversy can't keep us quiet about it!" Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

THE LORD SAVES

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears & delivers them out of their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken-hearted & saves the crushed in spirit . . . The Lord redeems the life of His servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned. (Ps. 34:17, 18, 22) "The Lord turns His countenance of favor toward His children, saves them, & blesses them. The Lord turns His countenance away from the wicked & condemns them to eternal death, though His will is to save all people by grace through faith in Christ." Engaging the Psalms, edited by Rev. Peter Jurchen

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Merciful & majestic Father, whose Son Jesus is our Good Shepherd, grant that when we hear His voice we follow where He leads & go where He guides; who, with You & the Holy Spirit, lives & reigns, one God, for ever & ever. Amen." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

AN EASTER HYMN

Make Songs of Joy, LW 132, Sts. 1-4

Make songs of joy to Christ, our head; Alleluia! He lives again who once was dead! Alleluia!

Our life was purchased by His loss; Alleluia! He died our death upon the cross. Alleluia!

O death, where is your deadly sting? Alleluia! Assumed by our triumphant King! Alleluia!

And where your victory, O grave, Alleluia! When one like Christ has come to save? Alleluia!