“Good” Friday…
“…and God saw that it was good.” So I had a thought about Good Friday and what makes it so “good.” We are well aware that God has a clear understanding of what is “good”. I am sure that we often consider good (and not good) on our terms forgetting that all things work for the “good” of those that live for the Lord. Luckily for us, He doesn’t operate in these conditions that would other wise restrict our growth, keeping us from the painful processes we have to go through to get to the pleasure, peace and promise He has in-store.
So I’m walking around Niarobi today and happened to pass a church having a “Good Friday” service today. Wow,the time flies! I had no idea it was already that time of year. I guess that’s what happens when your called to “unplug” for a year and travel the world. So I decided to go and join worhsip..even if I was in gym shorts and a shirt – fresh from working out.
As I sat that and worshiped (African Style) I thought about the meaning of “Good Friday” and how it’s only “good” for those who have a kingdom mindset and know what was in store. Before Good Friday was something we celebrated /remembered it was a day that Jesus knew would come. A day where He would suffer for all man-kind. Hhmm..and we call that “good.”
Not sure if He considered it worth being called “good” at that time, but I can only imagine that because of His kingdom mindset He saw the promise in-store.
At that time Jesus was that only One on earth who was in on the “redemption story” that would take place. He knew that although things looked grim and dark, as if all was lost, there was more to come. He was clearly aware of the hurt and the pain required, and still yet He choose to exchange His pleasure for our pain that we may have life and have it abundantly.
So with that in mind I reflected on my recent history of loss, and not knowing what’s in store. Had I known what I had to go through to get to this place of material freedom, selfless love and a desperate thirst for intimacy with the Father I’m sure i would have chosen to do it. Not without knowing what’s in store. But thanks to the “goodness” of God, He knew what it would take to get me here. And I’m sure He knows what it will take to get me there.
The call that there is more whispers to my Spirit relentlessly thirst for more. More understanding, more peace, more revelation, more intimacy, more wisdom, more kingdom, more Him – much more!
The answer for me screams …YES!
As many of you may know my grandmother recently passed away and I found out around 11:30 a.m. 4 days after it happened. Seeing as how I have relatively recent experience in dealing with loss, I knew that I had a choice to make. About 1 1/2 years ago, I lost my mother. That was a pain that I will never forget. This loss and hurt led me to a place of depression, frustration, anger and resentment. I can’t imagine going there again, but that was an option when I found out the news about Grandma.
I had been spending a lot of time studying 1st and 2nd Samuel and 1st and 2nd Kings. These books helped me to understand the importance of not just worshipping in the midst of trials, but being a worshiper at all times.
David was a man after God’s own heart whom He sought out to rule the land. And David was granted the pleasure of the kingdom because of His willingness to identify himself as a worshiper. Not just someone who chose to worship when the times where “good”, give thanks to God, but even when things were really bad and didn’t seem like there was a way out – David worshipped.
David worshipped “…And David danced before the Lord with all of his might.” Of course this particular scripture occurs after he has retrieved the Ark of the Covenant. But what about when he was standing hearing whispers about his dead child? What did David do.. he worshiped! ” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.”
David found his identity in the “goodness” of God and not the circumstances around him. It wasn’t about what benefited David in this life, based on his finite understanding of an infinite God, but it was his understanding of the life to come and the promise in store that gave him a heart of worhship. A heart of freedom. A heart of God.
This is the heart of a true worshipper. Someone who seeks to serve the Lord and have the will of the Lord present as a lifestyle is one who understands…
1.) You are God’s “Beloved”
2.) All things work for the “good” of those who love The Lord.
3.) He has predestined your steps so that you may experience His divine power and will in and for You.
David is a man whom I chose to be more like in my life. I worshipped God by 12 noon that day I found out about grandma, I worshiped cause I didn’t know what else to do. When I fought against God’s will the last time (when mother passed) everything in me hurt. And I blamed and cursed and fought Him with everything in me.
But I knew that He was hurting more than me. He knew what I was going through. He has and is still feeling my pain. And He begs me to take His yoke and leave mine with Him – daily. He also knew what I had to go through to get to where He wants and has predestined me to be – and it is “good”. I believe it is good…!
This time I chose to worship. Yes there is pain and hurt..but I will worship because I understand that I am “His Beloved.” And I am “good” and what is happening around me (as I abide in Him) is “good”, and in that He is still, always and forever will be “good”.
I pray that your today and tomorrow are “good” not for the favorable circumstances or the opportunities to be blessed , but rather the “goodness” that’s in-store for those who believe that He knows what’s needed to get you from here to there – and it will be good.
