GET TOGETHER- REAL MARCH MADNESS
Ro 5:6 -8 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This past Saturday it was cold and damp where we live just outside of Hamilton, AL. J.J. and I did something that we rarely do. We did nothing. Well we did do something. We both read books that were with Christian themes, but weren’t so much on what we are doing right, or doing wrong in ministry, but what I would call recreational reading. We also watched the basketball tournaments being played by the various Division I Conferences. That was relaxing for us because we really didn’t care so much which teams won in most of the games.
For two weeks March Madness has been going on in college basketball and will continue throughout the month. I want to talk to you about another kind of March Madness. The last Friday of this month is what we Christians Celebrate as Good Friday. That is the day when Jesus Christ the Incarnate Son of God died as our passage above tells us for the ungodly. Now that is really madness.
Think about it. God came to earth in the form of a man. God the Son the Lord Jesus Christ who was with out sin and who was pure and holy came to die for the impure and unholy. The Book of Hebrews tells us that He came for the ungodly Heb 7:26 “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.” Once again that is madness.
Many people feel like there is no hope for reconciliation to God. Some may feel that the sins that we committed in our past are to bad to be forgiven from. I don’t know about you, but I had some bad ones. On that Friday He took those sins to the cross at Mount Calvary. 2Co 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (NKJV) Now that is really madness.
On that day He paid the price that there is no sickness, or disease that we cannot be healed from. Peter knew that very well. He wrote about it in 1Pe 2:24 “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed.” (NKJV) That sounds like madness when the Dr. gives you a bad report with a stone cold look on his, or her face. Paul describes it like this in 1Co 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
On that day he paid the price for us to be free of addictions and walk in victory over all of Satan’s demonic forces no matter which ones, or how they try to come against us: Col 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Once again that is madness to those who are not in Christ. 1Co 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
As we were watching one of the championship games Saturday afternoon I couldn’t help but notice the passion that the fans of one of the teams had for their team. Those that couldn’t get in the game filled an outdoor entertainment venue to watch and pull for their team. There is nothing wrong with pulling for your team with a strong desire to see them succeed. On the other hand, during March I must say that my utmost passion will be directed to the One who went to the cross on that Friday on a Hill outside of Jerusalem and died for the sins of a lost and hurting world.
All the teams that are playing in the NCAA Tournament will be playing for a trophy that one day will not exist. During this month let your strongest passion be for the One that has paid the price for us to obtain a crown that will never perish: 1Co 9:25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. To some people that is real madness to think that we can live forever. May the world see us in the following manner and desire to become like us : 1Co 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! Be a fool for Christ, that is real madness to a lost and hurting world that needs Him so much.
Let Us Pray
Lord this month we will remember the day that You died for our sins. And on the first day of next month Lord we will celebrate You rising from the dead. Help us to worship you with a passion that exceeds anything else that we may have a passion for because Lord You have given us eternal life, and life and life more abundantly. No matter how much we may enjoy an athletic contest, or any other temporal thing none of them can do for us only what You can do.
In Jesus Name
Amen
Be a fool for Christ!
Your friend/Kinfolk
Preston
RE-RELEASE COMING AFTER APRIL 3RD
GREAT WITNESS TOOL
THIS TIME ONLY 10.00 PLUS SHIPPING
THE REAL PARTY IS AT DADDY’S HOUSE
MORE INFO COMING SOON!
Lu 15:22-25 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.’ And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; ‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
