I finished the book of Matthew this morning in my Bible reading. The last two chapters go from extreme agony to the beauty of Christ’s resurrection to His charge to the disciples to take His message to “all the world”. This is along with His promise of returning!

So many times I’ve read these passages. There are times when I read them and thought how wonderful it was for Jesus to do this for you and me. Today, in reading them, I have reflected more on the sheer agony of Jesus knowing well what He was going to experience and allowing it to take place. He knew His Father like He wants us to know Him. Christ suffered for our redemption and eternal promise. His suffering was due to our sin–not His. In our case, we suffer because of our own sin or sins done to us. Our strength is based on Faith, Trust, Hope where Christ’s strength was based on knowing well His Father. Today, my strength has grown significantly into that of knowing my Father so much better.

As I wrote yesterday about my early in life suffering, I had lots of lies I believed were true. One of those lies was my lack of value to God. God has shown me in remarkable ways how He loves me and I can know that full well as I pointed out in yesterday’s blog. I pray you know this too for your own self. Why would a Father sacrifice His Beloved Son for you and me if it were not for LOVE for us? He wouldn’t and today I know this full well!