May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Matthew 27:50-53
Today’s Bible Text: ⁵⁰ Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. ⁵¹ At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, ⁵² and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. ⁵³ They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: ‘Good Friday’ is generally a sad day on the Christian Calendar as we commemorate the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. However, I want us to concentrate on a few of the positives of that day:

• Obedience – Jesus said to the Father that He would prefer that the cup of suffering be taken away from him, but never-the-less He wanted the will of the Father to be achieved. After reading about all of the miracles performed by Jesus, I’m sure that this would be been an easy feat to escape the crucifixion with just one miraculous word from the Father. Jesus wanted nothing more than to be obedient to His Father, even if it lead to His death in humility before the world. Perhaps we also should use this as a guide as we study other parts of the Bible in regards to ‘Obedience’. It’s not only intended for those times that it is convenient for us to be obedient;
• Lives were impacted – The eyes of some of the very soldiers responsible for crucifying Jesus were opened to who Jesus truly was, and the awesomeness of what took place that day at Golgotha. No doubt, this was a turning point in their lives. Graves were opened and the dead arose! In a few days they went on to witness in the city. Do you suppose they got everyone’s attention? Do you suppose the people were now more open to listening to the witnesses of Jesus Christ by these individuals? What type of disaster or miracle would it take today for some to stop and listen to the truth of God’s Word and the love of their Creator? It is so sad to hear the stories of some who are intelligent, yet they have chosen to listen to the lies and deception of the Evil One, over the Savior who gave it all for their eternal benefit.
• The power of God – Let’s be careful not to be stifled into a feeling of defeat because of the cross. That very day we saw the temple impacted when the curtain was torn in two; stones split open and tombs opened. Because of our post-resurrection time that we live in, we know that the power of God also brings Jesus back to life to complete His mission. But may I also remind you that this same power is available to those who are struggling in life right now, also? Perhaps a marriage is hurting; or someone’s health is challenged; or financial issues; or unemployment. Friends, no matter what you are facing today, is it anything more challenging than what God faced on that first Good Friday?

I believe it is obvious that God was powerful enough to handle the events surrounding the crucifixion of His very own Son, so He could definitely identify with your pain and your challenges if only, like Jesus, you surrender your will to His and allow Him to be God. This could always be remembered as a ‘Good’ Friday in your personal calendar for the rest of your life!

Prayer: Father, You impacted our lives in all aspects of Your Son, even the day He spent in torment on the cross of Calvary. Your will was accomplished, all for our benefit. Thank You heavenly Father for Your love. Thank You Jesus for Your sacrifice and Your obedience. With the same power that turned this world upside down with the events of that first Good Friday, we surrender our will to Yours and pray that our lives might be so aligned with Yours that the world will see Jesus and desire to know Him personally. Touch Your people once again today Lord – ‘as we seek Your face, may we know Your heart’. I ask these things in greatest humility and within the confines of Your perfect will, AMEN!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016