Why do Christians celebrate Good Friday?

People tell you they love you all the time. Whether it is your parents, your best cousin, a 'lover' or that creepy guy/gal you just met.-Someone has told you that they love you. However, just how much do they 'love' you? Would any of them die for you if the two of you were in a life and death situation and one of you had to die? Would they give up their heart for you if you needed a heart transplant? How about being held at gun point, would they keep their stance? Just how much do they 'love' you?

Every year between the months of March and April, christians around the world celebrate this day called GOOD FRIDAY! Now if this day is supposed to be remembered because God sent His only son to be crucified, (on that day) John chapter 3, where is the 'Good' in someone's death? . Do we say "Good" and rejoice when someone dies? This seems unnatural doesn't it.

Just why do these people (christians) celebrate a day when their 'savior' Jesus was brutally beaten, 40 times with a multiple lash whip, tortured, then made to carry a cross that He would then be nailed to and left to die? Doesn't sound like an experience to celebrate but rather to mourn right?

While Jesus truly endured quite a death penalty, Christians do not celebrate His pain but rather celebrate the purpose of it all. Jesus could only go through all this for a genuine purpose or purposes.  He even asked God to take it away from Him and spare Him from this if it was possible, although He knew how it would end. Luke 22:42 "Father if you are willing, take this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done" Why else would anyone innocently endure all this?

 1. He did it out of obedience to God His father, who sent Him for that purpose. Even when Jesus asked to be delivered from this sacrifice He remain obedient to God, His father, saying; 'not my will but YOURS (God's) be done.'

2. LOVE! Jesus knew that His pain and suffering was to SAVE God's creation (people/humans) and to give them a gateway to actually have a shot at meeting the Father. Before Jesus, was the law, the one that says 'an eye for an eye...' Exodus 21:23-25... How many of us today can safely say if this law was still prevalent that we'd make it to heaven? NONE!

So when you see christians celebrating Good Friday, going to church, praying, fasting, watching Passion of the Christ, eating saltfish and doucouna, or even sharing Good Friday Memes it isn't just another day or a Friday that we thank God for, but one where we remember the Ultimate Sacrifice of Pure Agape Love. One that saved us from the penalty of our sins and opened a gateway for us to have a shot at seeing our heavenly Father!  Ain't that something worth making a big deal about? Happy Good Friday!

Why can't we just Love God?

As I sank into the worship this evening, the song 'Fill me up' by Tasha Cobbs began to permeate my spirit. I began to sing along asking God to cleanse me of my transgressions and remove every area of my life that wasn't pleasing to Him. His presence continue to 'fill me up' and I freely poured out everything from within me onto my Father. It's like a spiritual purge to engage in such a practice. You just surrender everything onto your creator and trust that He will just have his way in your life. Trust me when I say it does feel great to do and I may be inspired to write a separate article about it some day.

However, in the midst of this great spiritual engagement, I opened my eyes to see a lady in front of me using her phone, I began to weep uncontrollably while asking the question; "WHY CAN'T WE JUST LOVE GOD?'

Christians have the most beautiful treasure in the universe. We have the opportunity to experience True Love! A god that created such a beautiful world for us to call home with everything we could possibly ask for in it. He then gave us dominion (power) over it all! He watches us daily as we go around choosing everything else over Him, yet His love never changes. He sacrificed His only son to have a relationship with us, His own creation.

He even gave us the freewill to choose Him. He takes care of us, provides for us, takes us out of trouble, FORGIVES our any and every sin. And all He asks is for us to choose Him so we can experience even more of this abundant love and live out His great plan for us. How can we not love Him?

What does it have to take for us to simply LOVE God? We go through our daily lives making time for everything in our schedule and whatever is left or if any time is left we go to church or say  a quick prayer and even get annoyed if the priest or pastor is taking too long. We spend our money on everything we desire and scratch our purses to fetch the few coins remaining to throw pitifully into the offering baskets then get angry and curse the pastor/priest for loving money. Is that all God is worth to us?

We even fight against each other and argue that this denomination is better than the other. Does the God who created us show concern with such things? What will it take for us to show Him that He comes first just as He puts us first. We rush him to bless us and are quite unhappy when He says 'No' or 'not yet', as if He isn't smart enough to know what we need and when we need it.

The tears came rolling down my cheeks and I couldn't hold them back. Perhaps when I asked God to 'Fill me up' he wanted me to feel a little bit of the pain I and others cause Him when we choose everything else over Him. Imagine someone loving you unconditionally with agape Love and watches on every day as you take that love and go on doing everything else but acknowledging it, taking it for granted.

We hurt when we love and don't get love in return, imagine God! It'll run out some day you know. And when it does, we will want it. Let's not let that day come. God wants a relationship with YOU! Won't you let Him love you today and reciprocate?