A Good Friday Message

This is a picture of my little collection of Ukrainian Pysanky eggs. I love the intricate detail and the beautiful symbolism for the designs.

The two vertical eggs on stands are from the collection of Al's Aunt Marge. When she passed away several years ago I was fortunate to add these to my collection of beautifully painted matryoska dolls. The pink and red egg was a gift from friends, Doug and Marina Landro, who are missionaries in Ukraine. Check THIS site for an explanation of the symbols.
Thought for the Day: God is love, God is just, God is righteous. Sin separates us from God. In old testament times the people would have to sacrifice a perfect lamb to atone for their sins and they had to do it over and over because the lamb was merely a shadow of the Perfect Sacrifice.
In the heavenly courtroom:
God is the holy, righteous judge
The charge is sin
The verdict is guilty
The penalty is death (separation from God)
But God had a plan to reconcile the world to Himself, the first installment took place on Christmas morning; this weekend we celebrate the fulfillment of God's promise.
Picture yourself in traffic court. You've just plead guilty to speeding and the judge declares your penalty to be a $500.00 fine according to the law. The judge slams down the gavel then he does something remarkable. He stands up, removes his black robe, steps down from the bench and comes to stand beside you. Then he takes out his checkbook and pays your fine, because he's your dad and you are his child.
This is essentially what took place in heaven. On Christmas morning when we celebrate the birth of Christ- that is the day when the Righteous Judge removed His royal robe, stepped down from His eternal throne to come and stand beside us.
Today, Good Friday, is the day we recognize the crucifixion of the Prince of Peace, The Perfect Lamb of God. This is God, the Father, taking out His checkbook, so to speak, and paying the fine for our sin. Jesus died in our place. But there is more....Jesus finished the sacrifice on Resurrection morning when He rose from the dead. What the sacrificial lamb of the old covenant couldn't do, Jesus did by living again and conquering sin and death once and for all! Praise God for this most perfect gift~ John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Remember the traffic court scenario? Well imagine that you have a habit of speeding on occasion. The next time you find yourself in traffic court and you plead guilty (confess), the judge will declare you forgiven and there will be no penalty. 1 John 1:9-But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness.
Here are some verses for further meditation:
Romans 3:22-24 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

This Easter may you ponder the glorious fulfillment of God's plan for salvation.
Blessings in Christ,
nancy