My Walk With Him: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.] ...But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.] ...But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.] ...But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 1 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 2:13

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. As such, I continue with one of the recommendations from the post to prepare for Holy Week, which is to read John Piper's 40-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #22: To Bring Us to God. Here, John Piper highlights what he believes is "crucial" for believers to comprehend: "what is the ultimate good in the good news? It all ends in one thing: God himself. All the words of the gospel lead to him, or they are not gospel." Piper expands on this by sharing that none of doctrine (salvation, forgiveness, justification, redemption, adoption, etc.) is "good news" without a relationship with God where a believer deeply desires Him and is thoroughly satisfied with Him above anything else. Piper states: "[t]his is the greatest thing Christ died for. “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18)....Long before Christ came, God revealed himself as the source of full and lasting pleasure. 'You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore' (Psalm 16:11). Then he sent Christ to suffer 'that he might bring us to God.' This means he sent Christ to bring us to the deepest, longest joy a human can have. Hear then the invitation: Turn from 'the fleeting pleasures of sin' (Hebrews 11:25) and come to 'pleasures forevermore.'" Repent, believe in Him and enjoy Christ as Savior and the source of our greatest joy forevermore.

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God and my source of inexpressible joy - there is nothing else I enjoy more than You. I am undeserving of how full of grace for me that You provide such joy for me. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses for Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.