His Pain Became Our Gain

On this Good Friday, I am reminded of a somber moment. A moment where His pain became our gain.

As his pierced hands were nailed to the cross. The spear lanced his side. Our salvation poured out onto the ground on that hill. He suffered a death that no one should endure in order to cleanse the earth of its sin and make us pure.

We are closing in on the end of our forty days of Lent, many of whom can barely hold on a couple more days. Yet He held on, his friends denied him and He still held on. He carried the burden of the worlds’ sin, yet He held on. Even in His dying, as He hung on the cross, He held onto each one of us in his heart.

~ 1 Peter 2:24

Have you died to yourself this Lenten season? Given up your sin and embraced a new relationship with your Father? He will rise again in three days and carry your burdens with Him. Did you give him your sin to take home?

As believers whether Christian or Catholics (not sure why there has been such a hoopla lately on the difference) we all sin regularly. We fail daily and are burdened to carry our own cross. During Lent we are asked to fast, pray and give alms as symbols of our sorrow and cleansing ourselves of our sin.

Absolution of our sin is given by our admitting our shortcomings and leaving them at the foot of the cross. If we go to Him with a repentant heart He does forgive. What cross do you still bear this many days in? Have you given it all to Him?

Have no fear even though the Lenten season may be coming to a close. Our forgiveness and cleansing are eternal. As long as we profess with our mouths that which we have sinned. Truly give a confession and clearing of our conscience. We can be forgiven by our Savior each and every day we can be made new.

I recently shared a moment when I experienced the Holy Spirit for the first time. Since then I can say with authority that He is moving not only in my life but in the lives of friends and family. There have been testimonies that are above reproach. I have seen lives that were lost brought home again. This is a perfect time for each of us to get right with God. Take a moment today and spend some time with Him. Tell him your sins, ask for His forgiveness. He already knows what you have done, that is why he sent His only Son. All you need to do is talk to Him. Ask your Father for the forgiveness and healing He promised you long ago.

Many of us will enter a church this Sunday for the first time since Christmas. While others it may be their first time ever. Jesus is there waiting to forgive your sins. Our communities need healing and the prayer circles of its faithful. Welcome your lost brothers and sisters this weekend. Make church a place they will want to come back to.

There is no more a judgmental place than the pews on Sunday morning. Let the ones judging not be you.

Many of us are no better than the tax collectors or the Pharisees. We profess with our mouths that we are Christians yet our actions show otherwise. In the end it is those that seek forgiveness that will be healed. His pain was our gain, our sins died on that cross and we have been cleansed.

I wish you all a blessed Happy Easter and the rest of the year. I hope your Lenten journey has been a transformation as mine has been. Would love to hear how the last forty days have changed and expanded your heart for others. Please share your comments and thoughts below.

Blessings,

CJ