In Old Testament times, the people wondered when the sacrifices would be finished. Those who died in Faith believed that the last payment for their sins was yet to be made. There was an endless stream of sacrifices; these cleansed the people in a ceremonial way, but could not cleanse the conscience. Warren Wiersbe said, “He took my bankruptcy and covered it with His solvency.” He didn’t just make a down payment and then expect me to keep up the installments. On the cross the justice of God was fully satisfied when our heavenly Substitute paid the great price of ransom. This means that my sins are on Jesus, not on me. While there is sin WITHIN me, it is not ON me. My sinful nature keeps luring me toward sin, and even in my best moments my works are tainted with selfish motives. But legally, I am accepted on the basis of the merit of Jesus. Jesus’ cry “It is finished!” is a reminder that the price has been paid, I simply need to receive that gift. How about you, are you willing to trust the validity of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross? … READ MORE

The 6th cry from the cross, “It is FINISHED” signifies that Jesus had finished all that the Father had put before Him. In these words, lies the assurance of our own salvation, the sure knowledge that our personal debt to the Father was paid by another. Even though Jesus had yet to be buried, rise again, and ascend into heaven. The difficult work of suffering, the difficult work of being separated from the presence of His Father, the difficult work of being treated like a sinner was over. Though as His followers we suffer for different reasons and in different ways, we can take heart that our suffering, too, shall someday be done with. Whatever we face today we will one day be able to say, “IT IS FINISHED.” For those who choose to turn to Jesus and accept His suffering to pay the penalty for their sin, will one day find the rest they long for. The question is whether we have endured with the sure knowledge that grief is part of the divine place. We rest in the Divine plan and allow Him to use our lives to bring hope and perspective to others. We must remember that … READ MORE

Each of us needs to cultivate a small group of spiritual friends who we can share our temptations and struggles with. The Puritans used to ask God for one “bosom Friend” who they cold share their temptations and struggles with. In order to do this we have to admit our need and give the other person “permission” to minister to us. Galatians 6:2 reminds us that we are to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” After God created man, and put him in the garden in Gesesis 2. We are told that God said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18. God recognized that we needed people even before sin entered world, with that in mind to overcome our struggles and difficulties we need to develop relationships now. We often have a hard time finding that friend in our life who can and will help us in times of need. We need to remember Proverbs 18:24 which says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Take time to develop spiritual relationships, you never really know when you are … READ MORE