| “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” |
| —1 Peter 3:18a |
Saving the world was no picnic. Did you ever think about that?
Starting out as the Son of God—one of the three persons of the Holy Trinity—coming to earth as a human being; growing up in meager circumstances; taking on the mantle of salvation; gathering a bunch of erstwhile fisherman, and other individuals, to become His disciples; being crucified on a cruel Roman cross of torture; being buried in a borrowed tomb; rising from the dead on the third day; ascending up to heaven; and finally, finally sitting down at the right hand of His Father. Imagine how unbelievably stressful it was. Truly saving the world was no picnic.
And yet, Jesus willingly went through all this out of obedience to His Father and out of His immeasurable love for you and for me. The Apostle Peter states the whole span of this marvelous gift of God’s love in two sentences, as recorded in 1 Peter 3:18:
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
Jesus who never sinned, or, as the Scripture so elegantly puts it, “He who knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21), died in our place. He rose again to conquer death once and for all. We who have come to understand this amazing gift of God’s mercy, grace, and love have much to celebrate.
As we begin this day, let’s not lose sight of what Jesus has done for us. With hearts full of gratitude, let’s lovingly and carefully share what Jesus means to us whenever someone crosses our pathway with whom God prompts us to share the joy we have in Jesus.
Oswald J. Smith penned a lovely gospel song that I can remember singing as a youngster during Wednesday evening prayer meetings:
There is joy in serving Jesus,
As I journey on my way.
Joy that fills my heart with praises
Every hour and every day
There is joy, joy,
Joy in serving Jesus.
Joy that throbs within my heart.
Every moment, every hour,
As I draw upon His power,
There is joy, joy,
Joy that never shall depart.
There is joy in serving Jesus,
Joy that triumphs over pain;
Fills my heart with heaven’s music,
’Til I join the glad refrain.
There is joy, joy,
Joy in serving Jesus.
Joy that throbs within my heart.
Every moment, every hour,
As I draw upon His power,
There is joy, joy,
Joy that never shall depart.
There is joy in serving Jesus,
As I walk alone with God.
’Tis the joy of Christ my Saviour,
Who the path of suffering trod.
There is joy, joy,
Joy in serving Jesus.
Joy that throbs within my heart.
Every moment, every hour,
As I draw upon His power,
There is joy, joy,
Joy that never shall depart.
There is joy in serving Jesus,
Joy amid the darkest night.
For I’ve learned the wondrous secret
And I’m walking in the light
There is joy, joy,
Joy in serving Jesus.
Joy that throbs within my heart.
Every moment, every hour,
As I draw upon His power,
There is joy, joy,
Joy that never shall depart.
Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, March 3, 2017
