When someone messes with my kids, I could take out their beating heart (slowly).  I’m sorry to be graphic.  I tried to tone it down, and it still does not sound godly at all.  I know you totally get me and understand this protective and uncontrollable feeling.

As Easter approaches, we focus on what this week might have been like for Jesus.  We wonder about Him facing his final week on earth.

I can’t help but wonder what it was like for God.  He knew what was going to happen.  He knew the horrific pain that His only Son was going to have to endure.  The anticipation had to be unbearable.

How could He possibly love us that much?  How could He give up His only Son for a bunch of jerks?  And, imagine their separation while Jesus was on the earth.  They started time together in a perfect place, and He had to give Jesus up to this place for 33 years?  I bet that was the longest 33 years ever!

I can’t get over it.  I can’t understand it.  I can hardly restrain myself from being mean to a rude clerk.  God restrained Himself from taking Christ off of that cross.  During the life of Jesus on earth, God heard plots to kill Jesus, terrible things said about Him behind closed doors, and watched people being hateful to Him.  God restrained Himself.  He could have flicked them at any second. 

This challenges me to show some discipline and restraint.  To think before I act.  If God could really do that, then how much can I do with the Holy Spirit inside of me?

As I was thinking about all of this, this passage from Psalm was in my quiet time one morning,

“Yet He was merciful; He forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time He restrained His anger and did not stir up His full wrath.  He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.”

Psalm 78:38-39

I sit in amazement of Him and His love.