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www.truthworks.com 21 FEB 04 devotion archive |
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I tell you the Truth, I again apologize for the delays of Truth Works Devotions. My father has entered the last stages of brain cancer. He’s comatose for the most part and we don’t expect him to be with us but a few more days. But as I’ve reported before, we’ll mourn when the time arrives and yet rejoice as dad enters the presence of our Lord and Savior. Although it’s a difficult time, I felt deeply compelled to get this issue out in a timely manner concerning the release of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of The Christ.” <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< Have you watched the news lately? Read the paper? Listened to the radio? Surfed the Internet? Mel Gibson’s release of “The Passion of The Christ” is stirring enormous interest throughout the land. It’s an emotional stirring that is causing people to think. I’m not sure what all you’ve heard about this movie, but I’ve read numerous articles, watched the interview with Mel Gibson Monday night and I think I’ve got a taste of what you’re about to experience. From all that I’ve gathered, I think this movie is going to be so intense, so over the edge that it’s going to almost be something you’ll have to endure, rather than just watch. This isn’t about the life of Christ. It focuses only on his last 12 hours – the most vicious, inhuman, 12 hours spent by any one man in history. And the most amazing thing about the 12 hours is that it was more than just voluntary – it was the Son of God’s whole purpose in coming here – to sacrifice himself. It was, as the title describes, His passion for which He lived for – to die for mankind. Actually, the word “passion” as used in the original Aramaic text for the title of this movie is “pathos” which means “suffering”. The passion of Christ was to suffer for us. The cross should make us shutter. But we, the church and body of Christ have toned down the cross and made it into a beautiful piece of jewelry, an ornament. The cross doesn’t really affect us like it should. Would you wear a tiny electric chair on a necklace? Would you find a guillotine dangling from an earring to be attractive? Probably not. But I think we Christians have sanitized the cross of Christ. I expect that the “The Passion” just may strip away the veil that we’ve placed on the cross. I pray that we’ll never look at the cross the same way again. The cross is not smooth, shiny, or anything close to being ornamental. The cross that our Savior bore was anything but comfortable. It was horrible – even to the point of being cursed of God.
Galatians 3: Jesus Christ was hung on a tree, an innocent man, found guilty of a capital offense. But perhaps the most incredible thing about the cross is God’s curse. God, the man, endured His own curse for our sake. I wonder how the pain and torment of the beatings and physical abuse of Christ compare with the curse He endured for being hung on a tree. But Christ endured the cross and the curse to redeem us by "becoming a curse for us." The curse of the cross was intended for us but taken on by Christ. When all the sin of the world was placed upon His body, He became the curse. He took the sin upon Himself and became infested with all the results of sin. Pain, agony, turmoil, fear, disease are just a few of the results of sin. He experienced the shame and embarrassment of sin. He experienced them all. But perhaps the greatest curse of the cross that He bore was the moment His Father turned His head. We should all be in prayer about the viewing of this movie. I pray that no one is entertained, but that hearts might be changed. Sometimes I think Christianity has become too focused on entertainment. I'm guilty as charged. Quite often it takes a deep, emotional touch of reality to change a heart. God has a way of stirring us when we need stirred. Perhaps this movie will stir our hearts and bring us all the place where we see the cross for what it is. We should pray for revival in our own lives first, not in others. If we can experience revival in our own lives, other lives will follow. So what’s your passion? If it’s not Christ, perhaps the time for revival is now.
Your Servant, <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< Prayer Requests (and Praises!)
“Hi Randy, Please reply if you have prayer requests, comments or simply need an open ear. I always enjoy hearing from you.
<*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< <*))))))< Copyright © 2004 Truth Works Publishing. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise specified, all scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE,
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