5-30-2024

Good Morning All,

               Isaiah 53:7; “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

      I remember watching an old gangster movie.  There was a turf war between three rival gang families.  During the middle of this gang war, one of the members of one of the families turned over and became a member of a different family gang.  The first family met and decided that they could not allow this to happen, so they decided to have the man killed.  If they let one man defect, then who knows how many more would try.  They could not allow this, so they decided to make an example of the defector.  “It was nothing personal” the head of the gang even kind of liked him but, “this was business.”

    “Nothing personal, just business;” how often have we heard or used that phrase in our conversations?  It is designed to put distance between the people involved.  If we can distance ourselves from the consequences of our actions, it makes it easier to continue on in a guilt free manner.  After all, what we do for the sake of business is just that; it is business, it is never personal even if that business is murdering a former friend.  We may not go to that extreme, but we may not think twice about sabotaging a co-worker’s reputation or undermining a neighbor’s chance at expanding his business.

     We like to have things as business and not personal but when it comes to the death of Jesus, it is extremely personal.  He was betrayed with a kiss on the cheek, up close and personal.  He was abandoned by his closest and best friends at the time of his greatest need.  He was beaten with fists and rods and with a whip; his attackers were close enough that his blood splattered on them in an up close and personal manner.  The nails were driven in his hands by someone else’s hands.  It was all personal; driven by anger, jealousy, and hatred.

    It was personal; Jesus’ death was very personal.  It occurred because Jesus personally loves you.  He loves you enough to have taken up the odious task of dying for you.  He loves you enough to have taken the greatest step anyone can take; he died for you.  He died for the sins which you committed that have taken you away from God’s perfect garden.  By his death, he has restored you to the rightful place in his kingdom.  By his death, he personally saved you.  It wasn’t business or an obligation; it was a greater love than we can ever fathom.

Gracious Father, your mercies are new to us every day.  Because of your great love for me, because you personally chose me to be your child, you sent Jesus to die for me and to bring me salvation.  In your grace, you give me hope.  Keep me strong in my faith that I may ever hold fast to you.  Keep me strong in my allegiance to you that I may ever serve you in your kingdom everlasting.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret