Devotional Guide
For the week of April 4, 2004
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
Having a loving strategy
To Read: Exodus 31-33
To Know:
"When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an
altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid
him on the altar, upon the wood. Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took
the knife to slay his son." (Gen. 22:9,10)
Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" was criticized for passing over
Jesus' teaching, deeds of mercy, and biographical details. Gibson focused
exclusively on the cross. The filmmaker's critics chastised him for not
cutting Christianity down to the size of all other world religions. The
other "great" faiths proclaim the false hope that human nature possesses the
power to do God's will. An analysis of the four gospels proves Gibson right
and his critics wrong. The gospels are accounts of the cross with extended
introductions. Jesus' teaching, deeds, and bio reveal the uniqueness of the
man on the cross. Many went to their death on crosses but Jesus alone was
sinless. No justification could be found for killing Christ. Pontius Pilate
and Caiaphas, the High Priest, knew that they were executing an innocent
man. The judicial slaying of Jesus Christ to save sinners was the message
Gibson believed God called him to bring to the silver screen. Christians are
called, like Christ, to love their enemies and leave vengeance to the Lord.
To Do:
Do you have a strategy for loving your enemies? God gives his children a
forgiving nature by the new birth. We who believe are to nurture that new
nature and make it the strength of our character. Who has offended you?
Begin by praying for that one. Do it self-sacrificially. Say no to all the
right that is on your side and pray for God to bless the one who wronged
you. By praying for those that despitefully use us, we please the Lord and
prosper ourselves. "And if you salute only your brethren, what more are
you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You,
therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matt.
5:47, 48)
To Ask:
Father, I pray for...
04084$-04084
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