Today was Good Friday. We put on the Passion of the Christ at our ministry and invited the people of El Milagro to come watch. It was held in the garage which is the same place where they have their church services. We had popcorn and served a traditional Peruvian purple corn drink called chicha morada. Not a fan.
Before the movie started, my team gathered around to pray that people’s hearts would be softened to receive the message and the good news!
Our prayer worked. It worked on me.
I was reminded once again why I serve and choose to follow God.
Why do I always forget? How can I forget so easily how big and great God’s love is for us..
Permit me to tell you about my God and how great He is and how great His love is for everyone.
He loves those who don’t love him. Imagine that. Jesus died not just for those that love him, but for those that don’t as well. During the movie, there are people scoffing him, mocking him, wanting him dead, and causing him serious pain. It made me so incredibly angry. But then the Lord reminded me that Jesus died for them too. He died for everyone. He died for those that even hated him. Because that is how much he loves us. Me in my flesh could have never done that. Get crucified while people spout insults at me and just take it. But that is how much God loves us. And I am so thankful that He loves us that much.
He rescues those that need freedom. He died for us while we were still sinners, so that we could be free from our sin. Near the end of the movie just before Jesus’ death while hanging on the cross, one of the men of the two criminals being crucified with him also shouts insults and mocks him. But as the story says in Luke 23: 40-43, the other criminal asked the one mocking Jesus, “Do you not fear God?” our punishment is just, but this man has done nothing wrong. He then asks Jesus to remember him when He goes to His kingdom. Jesus responds while He is hanging on a cross about to die, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Even to the point of death, Jesus was still pardoning people’s sins and freeing them.
God loves us. It is very apparent. He sent his Son to die for us while we were still sinners. There is no questioning or doubting. God loves us.
But it’s more than that. It goes deeper. He desires us to worship him. To love him. To obey him. To trust him. To seek him. To know him. To ask him questions. To respect him. To want him. And He deserves it. He is the King of Kings. He is our King. Worthy of all our praise. He is our God. Our God who loves us immensely.
I pray I would never forget that. I pray you would never forget either.
Watch this awesome video that explains the gospel!
Until the next adventure,
Teej
