They all answered, “Crucify him!”
Ultimately, it was our sins that shouted “Crucify him!” that morning.
And when Pilate told the crowd “I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility!” they answered “His blood is on us and on our children!”
All praise and glory to God, it is.
His blood covers us, forgives us, purifies us, so that the penalty of sin – death – passes over us.
Dear Heavenly Father, we praise you. We praise you for your sovereignty and your holiness. We praise you for your gift of salvation, for your forgiveness, your grace, and your mercy through your Son, in whom you have made all things possible.
Lord Jesus on this day we remember your triumphal entry into Jerusalem, that you fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy, and we praise you and thank you that you revealed to us who you are, in those moments and in our hearts, and for your eternal salvation.
We remember, too, that there were shouts of “Hosanna!”- “Oh save!”, and that many people looked to You to save them from the suffering in this life, but didn’t see that Your kingdom was so much more that that. They didn’t see that Your kingdom was an everlasting kingdom, that You were, and are, and always will be the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and that You’d come to die in their place to save them from the penalty of their own sins, to give them an eternal victory, a life after this life.
Lord, we pray for salvation. Many will be listening to pastors all over the world today and in the days to come, looking for a savior in the midst of the suffering we’re facing. Many will be looking for someone to fix the world. Oh Lord, help them to not settle for redemption in this world only and miss the eternal redemptive work you desire to do in each of their hearts.
We pray you would pour out your Spirit, that you would soften hearts and open spiritual eyes to see their need for an eternal Savior. We pray, in your grace and mercy, you would grant repentance, that people will turn to you and pray for forgiveness for their sins, and receive You, Lord Jesus, as their own Lord and Savior.
We praise you for the great work you are doing and will do. Help us continue to be a light, revealing your love, grace, and mercy. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.
Today’s Saturday Song is Lauren Daigle’s Peace Be Still. I thought it appropriate considering this month’s header picture and last week’s blog Path of Faith.
Praying that even though the wind and waves may rage around us, He brings a stillness to our hearts and minds and a peace to our souls.
Lord, strengthen our faith in you, and help us follow you wherever you lead us. In Jesus name, amen.
I don’t want to be afraid
Every time I face the waves
I don’t want to be afraid
I don’t want to be afraid
I don’t want to fear the storm
Just because I hear it roar
I don’t want to fear the storm
I don’t want to fear the storm
Peace be still
Say the word and I will
Set my feet upon the sea
Till I’m dancing in the deep
Oh, peace be still
You are here so it is well
Even when my eyes can’t see
I will trust the voice that speaks
I’m not gonna be afraid
‘Cause these waves are only waves
I’m not gonna be afraid
I’m not gonna be afraid
I’m not gonna fear the storm
You are greater than it’s roar
I’m not gonna fear the storm
Oh, I’m not gonna fear at all, yeah
Peace be still
Say the word and I will
Set my feet upon the sea
Till I’m dancing in the deep, oh
Peace be still
You are here so it is well
Even when my eyes can’t see
I will trust the voice that speaks
Peace, peace, yes, over me, yeah
Oh Jesus, let Your peace call them
Ooh ooh
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe
Let faith rise up in me
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe
Let faith rise up in me
Lift your voice up higher
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe
Let faith rise up in me, oh oh
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe
Let faith rise up in me, yeah
Peace be still
Say the word and I will
Set my feet upon the sea
Till I’m dancing in the deep, Lord
Peace be still
You are here so it is well
Even when my eyes can’t see
I will trust the voice that speaks
Peace, peace, yes, over me
Yes Jesus
Oh, peace, peace Lord over me
Yeah, yeah
Lord Jesus, You’re the God of peace, Jesus
Ooh ooh
You’re a piece of a stone
You are in everyone, Jesus
Oh yeah, we receive it, we receive it
Oh, let the peace come
And wash all over me, yes
Oh oh
We rest in peace
Oh Jesus, You make our heart stay up
‘Cause You’re the creator, the strength of us all, ooh
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe
Let faith rise up in me
It’s our pray in the night
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe
Let faith rise up in me
One more time again
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe
Let faith rise up in me
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe it
Let faith rise up in me, yeah
Peace be still
Say the word and I will
Set my feet upon the sea
Till I’m dancing in the deep, Lord
Peace be still
You are here so it is well
Even when my eyes can’t see
I will trust the voice that speaks
Peace, peace over me, yeah
Peace, peace, yes, over me, yeah
Hallelujah
You bring peace, Jesus
Yeah, let it wash all away
Let it wash all away above us
I have been waiting for this all week. Patsy Clairmont is one of my most favorite people.
If you aren’t familiar with her, she has an amazing testimony of, as a young Christian, having had agoraphobia. Very basically, that’s when extreme anxiety leads a person to fear going out of the house or being around people. But not only was she confined to her house, her anxiety led her to being confined to her bed.
Through learning to be obedient to the Lord in small things, He delivered her from fear and anxiety. And for years now she’s been an author and speaker who can take you from laughter to tears in 2.5 seconds, all while glorifying Jesus. She is hilarious and I’m happy to share her with you, knowing she will put a smile on your face and remind you of God’s goodness, too. (The first video leads into the next.)
Dear Father, thank you for giving us much needed laughter. We pray you would calm our frazzled emotions with your special kind of peace that exceeds all understanding. In Jesus’ name…
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to them who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:7-10 AKJV
It is a long and tedious process to produce the perfect grape. It is three years from seed to harvest and involves soil cultivating – different soils for different grapes, perfect planting, temperature and wind control, proper sunlight, protection from pests and disease, watering, and pruning. Oh, the pruning. Pruning is so important that pruning contests are held to reward the best pruners. It takes a lot work to produce a fully mature, sweet crop of grapes.
Jesus said “I am the vine; you are the branches.” John 15:5a
The branches on grapevines can’t get tired, but we can. And as we endure years of tending and watering and pruning and waiting and not yet seeing the fully mature faith we desire, we might be tempted to give up. And right about the time when it looks like nothing is happening, it’s time to prune. Pruning is painful and sometimes all we see is that something is gone.
What we don’t see is what’s happening underground. Beneath the surface the roots are growing deep and strong, feeding on the nutrients in that perfectly fertilized and watered soil. And the stronger the roots, the stronger the grapevine will be.
So, let us not be weary in well doing…”
That word “doing” is a prolonged form of the word to do. To keep doing for an extended period of time. It also means to abide.
Keep going, keep growing, keep doing well, keep holding onto Jesus, the Vine, until harvest time. Yes, it’s hard, yes, it can be exhausting, yes it might look like nothing is happening except that so much has been taken away, but good things are coming if we don’t give up. We’ll see some fruit in this life, but the full harvest comes in the next. One day we’ll stand before our Heavenly Gardener and reap what we’ve sown.
So whatever season we’re in, let’s keep doing good to others – sowing to the Spirit – as God gives us opportunity, producing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and eventually the harvest of a sweet, fully mature faith.