Today is Sunday and has been a very busy day as usual. But what a blessing it has been. Our pastor and his family are on vacation this week so our administrative pastor, Larry Miller preached the morning service. It was a great reminder for me to check my heart and see where I am spiritually.

The basic premise is that there were 5 categories of people described in Matthew 27:33-54 and that they still exist today. See if you find yourself in any of them.

I.The Gamblers: vs. 33-35-the gamblers are described as being close to the cross, but clueless as to what was really taking place "playing games at the foot of the cross".

II.The Grumblers: vs. 39-40-the grumblers were religiously wrong, they told Christ to save himself....not knowing that the scripture had prophesied that He would be exactly where He was. These people wanted a show in front of the cross. They wanted to see something spectacular happen; after all they had already witnessed the miracles of Christ. This would just be another show to them.

III.The Graceless: vs. 41-43-this group included the religious people of the day.
The scribes and pharisees were there mocking Him and criticizing Him, causing others to doubt His power. Even though they were the ones who penned the scriptures in the Old Testament that foretold His coming.

IV.The Guilty: vs.54-(Isaiah 53) both of these references speak of the contrast between Christ and the thieves. Christ ask the father to forgive those who were guilty of His blood. This was in strict contrast to others who were witnessed cursing and trying to plead their case while being punished for crimes they had actually committed and were being punished for. In contrast, Christ said not a word to defend Himself, but gave Himself willingly. The people watching were convicted by the contrast they witnessed. Oh, that we would be such a contrast from the world around us that the conviction of sin would be felt in the hearts of those watching us.

V.The Grievers-Luke 23:48-49-This category is divided into two groups.
A.Luke 23:48-the first group came, saw and left exactly the way they came.
B.Luke 23:49-the second group came and stayed never to be the same.

I want to be of the second group of grievers. They saw the love and mercy of Jesus and grieved over the pain, suffering Jesus had to endure. But they also grieved over their own sin, that cause Jesus to died in for their salvation.
May the love of Christ be the driving force that causes me to live my life in a way that others see the contrast. May they see the love of Christ lived out through my life.

Look at the words of this old Hymn, it explains the love of God in a way that I cannot.
Could we with ink the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made.
Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade.
To write the love of God above, would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky!

Oh love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong.
It shall forever-more endure, the saints and angels song.

Isn't that beautiful. The earth cannot contain the height or depth of God's marvelous love for us. There isn't enough space in the sky to contain the volumes it would take to describe it. Be thankful today for that constant, unchanging love that He has for you.