4-18-2025 Good Friday Devotional

I came across a five-day devotional prepared by Bible Gateway and I chose the following to be shared during Good Friday Service Devotions. It’s titled “Mirror and Magnifier.

                   When you think of the Cross, what comes to mind?  Death?  Salvation?  Hope?  What about the word offensive?  That’s how Paul referred to it when writing to the Church in Galatia.  Centuries before that, Isaiah called it a stumbling block.  But although it’s foolishness to those who don’t believe, to those being saved, it’s the power of God as Paul tells us in I Corinthians 1:18.

                   As we look upon the cross, it becomes a mirror that reflects our true selves and a magnifier that enlarges our view of who we are.  Sadly, this may not always be a pleasant portrayal.  We may be tempted to look away as we come face-to-face with shame, anger, lust, or pride.  When we truly examine ourselves through the Cross, we see the sin and ugliness that Christ died to redeem.  We realize that we’re not so different from Judas.  And this offensiveness can leave us feeling discouraged and hopeless.

                   Thankfully, God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest effort we can put forth, shown again by Paul in I Corinthians 1:25.  He hasn’t left us alone to face this offense.  He has given us the Holy Spirit, which is His power in us, and has removed the offense of the Cross.  As we look to the Cross this night, we no longer see condemnation but hope as He transforms us to be more like Him.

                   All of us should take time to see what comes to mind when we think of the Cross and in what ways the Cross is a mirror and a magnifier for us and how we live our lives.