Golgotha

Portant lui-même la croix, [Jésus] sortit et alla au lieu dit le Crâne, appelé en hébreu Golgotha. Jean 19. 17

Quand ils furent venus au lieu appelé Crâne, ils le crucifièrent là, ainsi que les malfaiteurs, l’un à sa droite, l’autre à sa gauche. Luc 23. 33

Golgotha, Golgotha, oh ! quel souvenir !
Là, Seigneur, les hommes t’ont tant fait souffrir !
Là, ton amour brille, parfait, souverain ;
Là, tu réalises les conseils divins.

Rien ne te détourne, tu portes ta croix ;
La nuit t’enveloppe, tu meurs sur le bois.
La lance te perce… Et ton sang versé
À jamais nous lave de tous nos péchés.

Agneau pur, sans tache, tu t’offres à ton Dieu ;
Parfum sans mélange qui remplit les cieux,
Et qui, d’âge en âge, nous rappellera
Le grand sacrifice du mont Golgotha.

“Christ… par l’Esprit éternel, s’est offert lui-même à Dieu sans tache” (Hébreux 9. 14).

“Un des soldats lui perça le côté avec une lance ; et aussitôt il en sortit du sang et de l’eau” (Jean 19. 34).

“À celui qui nous aime, et qui nous a lavés de nos péchés dans son sang – et il a fait de nous un royaume, des sacrificateurs pour son Dieu et Père-, à lui la gloire et la force aux siècles des siècles ! Amen” (Apocalypse 1. 5, 6).

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New Every Morning

[God’s] compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22–23

God, Your love will never leave me. When I feel spent and without hope, remind me of Your mercies and compassion.

Today's Scripture & Insight: Lamentations 3:19–26

My brother Paul grew up battling severe epilepsy, and when he entered his teenage years it became even worse. Nighttime was excruciating for him and my parents, as he’d experience continuous seizures for often more than six hours at a time. Doctors couldn’t find a treatment that would alleviate the symptoms while also keeping him conscious for at least part of the day. My parents cried out in prayer: “God, oh God, help us!”

Although their emotions were battered and their bodies exhausted, Paul and my parents received enough strength from God for each new day. In addition, my parents found comfort in the words of the Bible, including the book of Lamentations. Here Jeremiah voiced his grief over the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, remembering “the bitterness and the gall” (3:19). Yet Jeremiah didn’t lose hope. He called to mind the mercies of God, that His compassions “are new every morning” (v. 23). So too did my parents.

Whatever you’re facing, know that God is faithful every morning. He renews our strength day by day and gives us hope. And sometimes, as with my family, He brings relief. After several years, a new medication became available that stopped Paul’s continuous nighttime seizures, giving my family restorative sleep and hope for the future.

When our souls are downcast within us (v. 20), may we call to mind the promises of God that His mercies are new every morning.

By:  Amy Boucher Pye

Reflect & Pray
How has God sustained you through the trials you’ve faced? How could you support someone who’s enduring a challenging time?