Yesterday was Black Friday, an annual shopping day filled with special buys and unique discounts on merchandise. It’s an opportunity to purchase costly gifts at a better price.
I love buying and giving gifts year-round, especially at Christmas. I enjoy finding a bargain on a treasure or a gift to give to family members, loved ones, and friends. I plan for Black Friday ahead of time instructing my family to give me their Christmas shopping lists in advance so I can be prepared to snatch up bargains on this special day.
But after investing a lot of time, effort, energy, and money, and acquiring many bargains, I wondered at the naming of the Black Friday commercial shopping day. Certainly, there are treasures, gifts, and bargains to be found… But what if there is a deeper meaning to the real Black Friday and a far greater gift to acquire? What if there’s a better Black Friday?
In the Christian faith, Black Friday (also called Good Friday) was the day Jesus was crucified and died. It was the pivotal day leading up to Jesus’s resurrection that followed. What seemed to be a very dark day was the greatest gift enfolding. Jesus died to give us life.
That Black Friday was the most expensive, extravagant, priceless gift ever purchased on that day! It cost Jesus His life. It cost our Savior everything to give us a blessed and abundant life--now and forever. He paid for this gift in full and gave each of us the most extraordinary gift ever!
I’m reconsidering what Black Friday really means and the priceless gift that has been purchased for me. What about you? Let us all embrace the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus that has been secured for us: it’s a better Black Friday.
Beloved:
Do you know how precious you are to Me? I adore you and I gave you the ultimate gift of eternal life through the sacrifice of My Son. Yes, it cost everything! But beloved you’re worth it. Embrace the gift of life I have for you.
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10b)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Considering that Black Friday's aim is to undo an entire year of "red", this missive takes on additional meaning.
Mark
Giving thanks for a great, loving friend as you!!!