makeyourdaycount - Oral Roberts Ministries

?What’s sogood aboutGOODFRIDAYBy Richard RobertsAt the end of every work What we call Good Friday lookedweek, you might hear like a terrible day for Jesus and Hissomeone say, “Thank God, disciples. It was a day when theit’s Friday!” Some people air turned cold and the sky turnedeven start out on Monday thinking, black at noonday. It was a day when“If I can just make it to Friday…” hopes for the future were dashed toBut there’s one Friday that’s better the ground. It looked like the day tothan all the rest. It’s the Friday end all days!before resurrection Sunday…and it’s In Jesus’ time of greatest need,come to be known as Good Friday. His disciples ran away and desertedHim, afraid to even acknowledgeIT DIDN’T LOOK VERY GOOD! knowing who He was. So, what’sGood Friday was the day when so good about Good Friday? The factJesus’ hands and feet were nailed to that Jesus went to the cross in our place.a cross. It’s the day when our Lord The one who knew no sin becamewas beaten beyond recognition, sin for us so that, through the powerand had a spear thrust into His of His resurrection, we could beside. It’s the day when Jesus died set free from sin’s evil power (2on a cross.Corinthians 5:21). He took thestripes on His back…so that wecould be healed from sickness anddisease (1 Peter 2:24). Accordingto 1 John 3:8, For this purpose theSon of God was manifested, thatHe might destroy the works of thedevil. When you understand thepurpose for Jesus’ dying on thecross, there’s plenty that’s good aboutGood Friday!SUNDAY WAS ON ITS WAY!The cross was a terrible, agonizingexperience for the Lord. But Jesusknew that if He didn’t go to thecross, there would be no salvationfor all mankind. There would beno healing for you and me. Therewould be no miracles. There wouldbe no resurrection. The miraculouspower of the cross would never takeplace.Jesus endured the cross for areason—because of the joy that wasset before Him, Hebrews 12:2 tellsus—because He knew ResurrectionSunday was coming!On Sunday morning, Jesus burstforth from the grave, breaking thebonds and power of death. Throughhis death and resurrection, He haddefeated satan and his power overour lives once and for all. Colossians2:15 nlt says, God disarmed the evilrulers and authorities. He shamed thempublicly by his victory over them on thecross of Christ.And because Jesus lives, wecan live also, according to John14:19.. Through the power ofHis resurrection, we can have theabundant life that He wants us tohave by receiving Him into our livesas our Lord and Savior.JESUS CAME FOR YOUIf you’ve never given your heart toJesus and asked Him to take controlof your life, I invite you to do sonow.Romans 10:9 nlt says, If you confesswith your mouth that Jesus is Lord andbelieve in your heart that God raised himfrom the dead, you will be saved.Just pray this simple prayer with me:Father God, I repent of my sins,and I ask You to forgive me. Comeinto my heart and be my Lord andSavior. I give You my life, and Iask You to make it into somethingmiraculous.Thank You that Your Son, JesusChrist, went to the cross for me,and thank You for sending the HolySpirit to dwell inside me. And mostof all, thank You for saving me andgiving me eternal life with You. InJesus’ name, amen.If you prayed that prayer fromyour heart, you are now a newcreation in Christ. What this meansis that anyone who becomes a Christianbecomes a new person. They are notthe same anymore. A new life in Christhas begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 nlt)YOU are what’s so goodabout Good Friday! Y12 A P R I L / M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 3 W W W. M A K E YO U R D AY C O U N T. C O M 13