The definition of “forsake” is to abandon, give up on or renounce something or someone. Why did God forsake Jesus and how do we know that happened?

As Jesus was on the cross dying, He asked God why God had forsaken Him. The book of Matthew chapter 27, verse 45 says, “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).”

1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” Jesus literally took on our sins, yours and mine. He chose to pick them up and place them on Himself. Jesus was without sin, but He chose to carry our sins to the cross. God cannot be in the presence of sin. When Jesus took our sins onto Himself, God the Father had to turn away from Jesus, He had to forsake Him.

Jesus endured the cross because of His love for you and because He knew once He had given His life as a sacrifice, we would be healed from our sins. Because Jesus died for us, God will never leave us or forsake us, (Deuteronomy 31:8). In fact, there is nothing at all that can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus. Romans chapter 8, verse 38 says. ” . . . neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That last portion of the promise is because we believe in Jesus. Once we believe in Jesus, there is absolutely nothing and no one that can ever separate us from the love of God. Never.

Let’s pray. Thank You Jesus for taking on the sins of each one of us. All we have to do is believe in you. Help us to keep our eyes on You, Jesus. In Your name we pray, amen.

There are so many things going on in the world around us. Sometimes we have seen or heard or experienced things in life and we do not know what to do next. Each day can be confusing, tiring, or overwhelming leading us to ask the question, ‘What do we do now?’

In the book of Titus, chapter 2 in verse 12, we read, “And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”

 When we are in doubt of what to do, we can look to these verses for steps to take. First, we should reflect on our lives and assess if we are committing sins that cause us to be living godless lives. If so, we are to turn from such living and sinful pleasures. Second, we are to focus on living with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God. The Bible confirms that taking these steps and following the word of God will require focus and being intentional because we are living in an evil world. Third, while we turn from sinful living and turn toward living with devotion to God, we are to look forward with hope to that wonderful day when our Savior, Jesus Christ, returns. We should remember that while we are living in an evil world, it is temporary. Jesus gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. The last step is to relentlessly pursue doing good deeds every day.

Let’s pray. Thank You Jesus for freeing us by taking on the sins of each one of us. All we have to do is believe in you and we are freed. Help us to keep our eyes on You, Jesus. In Your name we pray, amen.

The book of Colossians chapter 3 says that once we believe in Jesus as our Savior, we die. What does this mean and what does this look like in the daily life of a Christian?

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

In the daily life of a Christian, we must ask God for the wisdom to see what parts of our old life lives on. We need to pray to God to see what of these things we have in our hearts: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language or telling lies. 

Let’s pray. Thank You Jesus that You died for us. Thank You that You tell us exactly what parts of us need to die – anger, immorality, greed. Help our hearts and minds to see what parts of ourselves we must leave behind as we follow You. Help us to keep our eyes on You. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Psalm 23 is often read at funerals. This is a Psalm that should encourage us when we go through difficult times. There are so many beautiful promises in this Psalm. Let’s focus on just one.

Psalm 23

“¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.”

Did you read the beautiful promise that we will walk, not die or drown or stagnate, but walk with God side by side. ^“Even though I walk through the darkest valley . . “. Keep walking, this is not the end.

Let’s pray. Thank You for walking with us in the darkest times of life. Thank You that You will never leave us, You are always right there at our side. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.