Friday, October 20th

“Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’  A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, but put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.  When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”  John 19:28-30

Dear Jesus, Your bucket list was to live and die for all of us.  You had no ambitions to exploit this temporal world for your own entertainment.  You were 100% committed to finishing your life without succumbing to one temptation no matter how hard it was or how good the temptation looked.  You wanted only to fulfill Scripture so we could find you for ages on the pages of your word.  You wanted to settle the score for every human that would ever live.  You wanted to save the world!  And so, what a triumphant cry it was for you to say, “It is finished!”  I on the other hand will die with regrets about unfinished projects, un-repaired relationships, unfulfilled dreams and wasted moments that I can never get back.  I find great peace in knowing that your finished life envelopes my incomplete sojourn.  Thank you for giving me the freedom to live my life for others without grieving too much over my losses.  Amen.

Jesus died without regret so we’d have a place to hide ours!