Cast into the River of Life

"Then Jesus went about a stones throw away from them.  He knelt down and prayed" (Luke 22:41).

Did you know that the final prayer of Jesus was about you?  The passion he would enter into was for you.  Before He went to the cross, He went to the garden and spoke with His Father and prayed about you.

God couldn't turn His back on you because He saw you and one look was all it took.  Right there in the middle of a world which isn't fair, He saw you cast into a river of life you didn't request.  He saw you betrayed by those you love; He saw you with a body that grows weak, and a heart full of loneliness.

In the garden, Jesus made a decision.  He would rather go to hell for you than go to heaven without you.  Holy is the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.

Praise be to Jesus, for in His great mercy he has given you new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish.  Though you do not see Him you love and believe in Him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus is revealed.  Since you call on a Savior that judges each man's work, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.  For you were not redeemed by precious things like gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

Far back in time, Jesus knew you before this earth ever revolved around the sun.  He loved you with an outrageous love then and knew that you would turn your back on Him and go your own way.  He knew that you'd need a Savior.  he never gave up on you and knew He would have to go the way of the cross.  Look into the heart of Jesus and there you are.  And you may ask Him, "Why did you have to die that horrible death, and suffer so much?"  And He will tell you that He didn't have to, He chose to because of you.  He knew you were going to be:

"Cast into the River of Life"

and couldn't swim out by yourself.  So He plunged in; became flesh and delivered you from the storms of life, and by His blood reconciled you to Himself.  Because He couldn't stand to see you in Satan's clutches, so He smiled when you surrendered to Him.

Jeremy Riddle  Among the Thirsty  1 Peter 1  Max Lucado  David Crowder Band