Ridgell's Originals

 It is just over one week until Good Friday and then Easter Sunday.  Easter is the day that gets most of the attention, but I want to talk about Good Friday -- the day Jesus died.

Jesus died to make a way for us back to God.  Our sin separated us from God.  Bad choices.  Things we did that we really knew we should not have done.  Things not done that we really knew we should have done.  Holy God and unholy us.

Yet God loved us so much that he sent His only Son into this world to die on the cross and pay for our sins.  Paying a debt that was not his.  All so we could live forever with the Holy God.  Read John 3:16

It is a free and loving gift.  Yours for the taking.  All it takes is faith.

Faith enough to die.

That death is called baptism.  Read Romans 6:3-5.  

We are baptized into his death.  We are buried with Christ thru baptism into his death.  Then raised to a new life.  And if we are united with Christ in baptism, we will also be raised with him.  

God's gift.  Our faith.  Love.  Death and resurrection. 

Friday he dies.  Sunday he is raised.

If you have died with Jesus, celebrate this next Friday.  Remember your baptism.  Tell your kids and grandkids about how it felt to come out of that water.  Thank God for his gift.  Resolve to live up to your baptism.

If you have not yet died, I am going to ask you to make that commitment.

Maybe Good Friday would be a wonderful day to die with Jesus in baptism and be raised to a new life. 

So make the decision.  Call your preacher.  Or a good friend.  Ask them to open up the church baptistry.  Or meet you at a lake or use a hot tub.  Find a fountain.  

If you are not sure who to call, get ahold of me.  I will meet you or connect you with someone.

steveridgellministry@gmail.com.

Good Friday could just be the day you are born again.  Forever. 

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM