“Good Friday is good because the pain of our Savior became a generous pardon.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 18, 2025
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28, NLT
Suffering is a negative experience, while salvation is a positive one. Can salvation arise out of suffering? Yes! God’s love granted us the gift of salvation through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. Good Friday is good because the pain of our Savior became a generous pardon for all who call on His name. His blood flowed from His crucified body so that through His blood, we are cleansed of our sins and granted abundant life on earth as well as eternal life in heaven. In the divine equation of love for all who believe, bad becomes good. God flips the script through love.
When you love the Lord and follow His call and purpose for your life, you embark on an adventurous assignment more significant than you can imagine. Yet, to truly feel the full force of your faith, it’s imperative to remember the reason behind who you are and what you do. Love is the foundation of God’s love for you and your love for God. The language of love translates bad into good, starting with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Evil thought it had won when it played right into the righteous hands of heaven. Killing the messenger validated the message through His resurrection. The remnants of the bad were left behind, symbolized by empty grave clothes, as the good came alive, adorned in the bright garments of God’s glory. Death birthed eternal life!
As Paul’s writings celebrated a few years later, “O Death, where is your sting?… thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Without the cross and resurrection, sin and death win, but because of God’s great love on the cross and in the empty tomb, life in Christ wins, and sin and death lose. Bad is used for good by belief in a good God who loves and adores you. Unbelief holds you back. Belief frees you to embrace love.
Have you ever noticed how life’s hardest moments often become unexpected turning points? When you follow God’s purpose for your life, even the tough stuff gets transformed into something meaningful. Think about those times when a setback actually pushed you toward a better path or when a disappointment led to an unexpected blessing. It’s amazing how God can weave your struggles into a larger story of growth and purpose. Remember Joseph telling his brothers, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good“? That same principle is at work in your life today. Your challenges, heartbreaks, and obstacles aren’t just random hardships—they’re raw materials in God’s hands. He’s constantly working behind the scenes, turning your trials into stepping stones and your pain into purpose. Trust His process—He’s writing a story bigger than you understand right now. Lean into divine love to use bad for His greater good.
Good Friday became good because God’s love transformed the worst situation into His best-laid plan: salvation for all who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. There is a greater purpose at work in your life that you may not understand until heaven. In the meantime, trust that love is at work, writing your story for others to read, who will be inspired to remain faithful. By grace, bear your cross, knowing your resurrected Savior Jesus brings you alive through His perfect life and love.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for transforming my struggles into strength and my pain into purpose. Help me trust Your perfect plan, even when I can’t see the bigger picture You’re crafting. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
What bad experience in your life is the Lord using for His greater good?
Related Reading
Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 27:45-46; John 19:30; Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24
Worship Resource
Anne Wilson: The Cross
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