Stepping Stones: The Greatest Day of All Time

Transformational Thought

I was on national TV for a football competition when I was 12 and 13 years old. My parents gave me a great surprise birthday party when I was 18, and my wife and 3 girls gave me an awesome surprise 40th birthday party. The day I met my wife – love at first sight. Wedding Day, and night. The birth of all 3 of the greatest daughters and children a father could ever dream of.

These were unbelievably great days, but amazingly, I wasn’t even alive for the greatest day of my life.

You see, almost 2000 years ago, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the only Perfect Man who ever lived, endured humiliation, persecution, the false accusations of ignorant and corrupted peons posing as rulers, to die a physically painful death on the cross…for ME! He took my punishment for all, and that is a lot, of my sins, the big ones and little ones.

He was even willing to endure the 3 hour separation from His Father, their first separation ever, as He bore my sins. He was willing to do that for Me…and for YOU!

Because of Good, no, GREAT FRIDAY, and in accepting His death and payment, I am free of Satan’s power, man’s schemes, sin’s guilt, and death’s grip. I am in God’s loving, powerful, and protective arms forever. What relief and peace, no matter what God allows to come into my life to purify and grow me into His child and a disciple of Christ.

Today, if you haven’t already, humbly accept Christ as your Savior and Lord….. He died for your daily and eternal freedom, too. Does your greatest day compare with mine? The cool thing is that it can be yours, too. If you have accepted Christ, remember your elation of that day and pass this on to someone who needs to experience the greatest day ever.

Prayer
Glorious Heavenly Father, Thanks for Your eternal love, that pursued me from Heaven above, to a dirty manger, then living as a menial carpenter in a slave family, working with 12 guys that needed a lot of help, being falsely accused, scorned, whipped, tortured, and killed…..for me. I am sorry I stray from You, but Your love and sacrifice doesn’t depend on my obedience. It truly was, is, and will always be, unconditional. Help me rest in this truth and Your redeeming act every day, and live a rejoicing life so other’s see Your mercy, grace, power, and love. In Jesus’ great and humble name above all names; and all God’s children say – Amen!

The Truth
And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!"
Luke 23:34-47