Holy Week

Many churches across America will celebrate Good Friday services today.  Tonight I will lead a service at New River Worship Center in Radcliff, Kentucky.  I always look forward to the service on Good Friday because it allows us the opportunity to look back to Calvary but it also affords us the opportunity to look ahead not only at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ but the promise of His return and His continuing presence with us.  This week's preparation for Good Friday and the Resurrection Celebration on Sunday has been different for me.  The Holy Spirit has caused me to truly focus on the blessings that was provided through the cross on which Christ died.  How often have I (we) been guilty of forgetting those provisions that have made such a dramatic difference in our lives?  Is it possible that we have overlooked the great sacrifice that was offered on Calvary?  I am determined to bring some of these things back into our thought process so that we can give due honor to Jesus Christ and the great door of relationship that He has opened to us through His sacrifice on Calvary. 

Christ's death on Calvary has brought to us the blessings of Justification.  On the basis of Jesus' sacrifice, the Lord now declares believers not guilty of the sins that they have committed.  Each of us were guilty of sinning against God and we needed our Savior to pay the price for the commission of those sins.  Although we had sinned we have been made righteous through the blood of Jesus.  We do not make this declaration out of an attitude of arrogance or self-righteousness rather we make this declaration through humility and gratitude to a Savior who loved us enough that He took our sins away and placed in our hearts His righteousness.  We need to avoid any thoughts of what "self" has done and understand that our right standing before God was not earned through our good works but it was received though faith as we invited Jesus Christ into our hearts.  Holy Week does not give believers the venue to declare our greatness but it provides an opportunity to seriously spend time in introspection and re-dedication.  Introspection affords us the opportunity to allow the Spirit to search our hearts and re-dedication allows us the opportunity to give our lives to Christ in a fresh and vibrant manner.  Let this weekend be one in which each of us take the time to search our hearts but we also take the time to praise and honor God for the great provisions of Calvary.

A variety of songs and music styles will be offered in services this weekend.  Some churches will sing the hymns of the church, other churches will choose to use the means of a choir presentation, and other churches may choose to use praise and worship music.  As I was preparing to finish the post, the Spirit encouraged me to place this challenge before you.  Let us praise God with fervor and gratitude regardless of the style of music that the Worship Leader chooses to use.  Do not focus on the "vehicle" that may be used to bring you into the presence of God but choose to focus on God who has made it possible that we might be called the "children of God."  Have a great weekend of celebration!