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From PlanetWisdom Devotionals...

"The most important [command]," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 11:29-31)

Jesus continued to put Himself directly in the crosshairs of the religious leaders in the days leading up to his death and resurrection. After causing all that turmoil at the temple on Monday, He went right back to the temple courts on Tuesday morning. This time, the chief priests and teachers were waiting for Him.

That’s why He was there. Jesus seems to have set aside Tuesday and maybe Wednesday to allow all comers to question Him while He addressed the wrong teachings and wrong attitudes that had worked into Jewish religious life.

And at least one teacher seemed to get it. After this famous statement from Jesus about the most important commands, that anonymous teacher agreed that loving God with all we have and loving others the way we’d want to be loved is more important even than all the offerings and sacrifices. He understood what Jesus wants us to understand -- God cares more about what and how we love than anything else.

Think: What do you feel most passionate about? What do you wake up in the morning thinking about? What are the last images in your head as you fall asleep? How could you love God with more of your life?

Pray: Ask God to help you see how to love Him with everything you’ve got -- and to give you the courage to love worthless things less.

Do: Make a little list of the main things that compete in your heart with affection for God.

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Today is "Good Friday..." what is so "good" about remembering the day our precious Lord, Savior & Friend was crucified?

This is the point in Jesus' life on earth where to those not in the "know", it would seem He utterly failed to accomplish that which everyone thought He was here to do. Because we have the God breathed, Holy Spirit inspired Word of God for us to read...we see the whole picture. Like the building up in a beautifully written symphony, this is the point where the music quiets and slowly builds up to the crescendo. The cacaphony of noises, sounds and turburlent notes have surceased and the sweet notes of freedom are played.

The "good" of Friday is not realized fully until the ultimate triumph over death: Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday. The "good" of Friday is not the crucifixion alone...but that His death was necessary to bring us eternal life! I do not mean to downplay the horrible death Jesus suffered for you and for me. For, indeed, it was beyond our imaginations. From a human point of view, we may have a glimpse of the human suffering Jesus endured. But, never being Divine, we have no concept or point of refernce for what Jesus as God suffered.

He who knew no sin, became sin for us. And, it was pleasing to the Father. Jesus was the perfect, acceptable sacrifice to the Father for us. I cannot fathom this...but I believe and know it as truth.

Be thankful beloved! Rejoice in your salvation! Praise God for His complete and perfect work accomplished on the cross. Find joy in the empty tomb.

He is not there...He has risen indeed!

Happy Good Friday.

c'iao-Mary