The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.... I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1 Corinthians 1:18 and Romans 1:16

The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.... I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 1 Corinthians 1:18 and Romans 1:16

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. While Holy Week and Easter have passed, I do want to read to completion John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #43: To Unleash the Power of God in the Gospel.  The devotion today opens describing gospel as good news (see also Greek dictionary) and as "something significant [that] has happened that will make people happy."  The gospel of course is that Christ died but rose again. The devotion then refers us to 1 Corinthians 15:1-7, and shares that the "heart of the gospel" from this text is that "Christ died for our sins . . . was buried . . . was raised . . . and appeared to more than five hundred people." Piper uses this text then as he shares that "[t]he fact that he says many of these witnesses are still alive shows how factual the gospel is. He meant that his readers could find some witnesses and query them. The gospel is news about facts. And the facts were testable. There were witnesses of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection life."  As Piper continues, he builds on yesterday's post, which describes how Christ defeated Satan as the "great accuser."  Yet, while Christ did defeat Satan, Piper uses this devotion to share (pointing to 2 Corinthians 4:4) that until Jesus returns again (second coming), Satan continues to exist and for many "blinds the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ."  1 Corinthians 2:14 provides additional text describing how non-believers cannot see the gospel as good news.  The devotion begins to wind down by reminding believers of the grace and mercy of God, as He removed the blinders, allowing us to see the gospel as good news. In John Piper's words, "satanic blindness and natural deadness must be overcome by the power of God" - this of course was done on the cross and through the resurrection. The devotion wraps by referring us to 1 Corinthians 1:24 as the text describes the "merciful act [of Christ who gave believers] the blood-bought gift" of faith and salvation.  Rejoice in the greatest gift of all time!

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for removing the blinders from my eyes so that I could see the good news.  I am not deserving of this gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sins are great and they continue...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin 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 to 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.