Good Friday is known for the day when mankind was forgiven and granted eternal salvation. God sacrificed His only son, who was hung and bled on the cross, for the atonement of all the sins of humanity.
With that, it’s important not to see this day as a tragedy. Instead, we should view it as a gift we’re grateful for. No matter where we are in life, what highs or lows we may be going through, it’s important to take a step back every once in a while to reflect on all the good deeds the Lord our Savior has done.
Other than performing your usual prayers, opt to spend some extra time with your family on this special day. And what better way to commemorate the holiday than reciting a Good Friday Devotional?
Good Friday Devotional
Begin the Good Friday devotional by reading the selected passage below. From there, read the reflection, and take turns with the family in answering the questions that follow it.
The process of a devotional is really simple. Yet, it stimulates a powerful connection not only with the Lord, but with our loved ones, too.
Listen
This part is optional. If you want to have a more immersive devotional, you may listen to this song as you recite the devotional.
A Place At Your Altar
Scripture
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:16
Reflection
God is loving and all-encompassing. There could really only be one of His glory and righteousness. Years ago, He offered His only son Jesus Christ to provide mankind the gift of salvation and freedom from suffering. It is a simple but enduring deed that lasts for more than centuries and decades; an undertaking that we are celebrating and are due to commemorate this very day.
By sacrificing His own son to save His people, God was able to demonstrate and prove His pure love. It is through this selflessness that we are able to experience love, compassion, and appreciation for each other, as this was what God our Father has shown to us.
If not for His love, humanity would have been completely destroyed from the start. We would have utterly succumbed to temptations, leading our lives with nothing but greed, lust, gluttony, wrath, and all that follows. Instead, through that one act of God, we are able to share our gifts and blessings with others.
It was through His deeds that we are able to take delight and comfort in making others smile. Because of His selflessness, we’re able to see hope at the face of the most difficult plight of our lives. Through all our strife and hardships, we are always able to see the light that’s leading our paths. And, it is through His love that we are able to make things right.
In all essence, God is our Savior. Whenever we find ourselves lost or confused, we turn to Him to help fight our darkest demons. No matter the situation, we mostly find ourselves humbly asking for His gracious guidance to get through tumultuous times. In moments of despair, He scoops us back into His loving arms, and gives us exactly what we need. We don’t always realize it, but He would always be there for us.
He has never left our side—even on times when we fail to reciprocate His faithfulness, and forsake Him. Even when we no longer show gratitude and appreciation for His blessings, He does not forget to consistently shower us with the labors of His love.
When we’re lost and unhappy with our lives, His love serves as a reminder of what’s to come at the end of all suffering. His promise of eternal salvation, which was reignited on the day He offered His son Jesus to save us all, brings us back to our feet. It makes us realize that the path we are treading is simply part of our journey towards our growth as devoted and benevolent children of the Lord.
However, as we tread these rocky roads, a lot of us tend to forget sometimes. More than that, we have a tendency to do the exact opposite of what God expects from us. We are bound to make mistakes. But with each flaw should come a lesson, and with each lesson should come a new learning experience that would humble and remind us of our purpose in this world.
As we lose our grip and our foresight of God’s plans for us, we commit sin and fall into temptation. We’re no longer the ideal sons and daughters of the world He’s created, and we become lesser versions of ourselves in His presence.
In moments like these, let us not forget who has been there for us from the beginning; who sacrificed most of what He had, in order to fulfill His promise of eternal salvation to mankind. In moments like these when we find ourselves doing more bad than good, let us take a step back to evaluate our situation and find our way back to God our Father. If there’s anything we have learned from all He has done for us, it’s that God our Father will always have His arms open to those who accept His love and plan for us all.
Ask Yourself
So we may be able to reflect on the passage further, let us take a couple of minutes to reassess and evaluate where we are with our lives and our relationship with the Lord. You can take turns with the family in answering the following questions:
- When was the last time you thanked God, and have been truly grateful for all the good and bad that has happened in your life?
- Was there any recent time when you blamed Him for causing you harm?
- Was there any time recently when you succumbed to sin and temptation? What caused you to do/not do such a thing?
- In what way can one practically spread God’s message and love in their everyday lives?
Though simple, these questions help to bring us back down and remind us of our mission on Earth, as well as what makes God the Father so special.
Prayer
To wrap up this Good Friday devotional, let us all end it with a prayer:
Dear Lord,
We thank You for all that You have done for us. Because of Your endless and undying love, we are able to experience compassion and appreciation for the world around us. Because of Your sacrifice, we are able to do and achieve many wonderful things in Your name.
For the times we have given in to temptation or have forsaken You, please forgive us. In times when we have forgotten to pray to You and call out Your name, please remind us. For all the times we have consciously neglected our moral responsibility, please strengthen us.
Forgive us O Lord, that we may be able to veer away from sin and temptation while performing our duties as responsible members of Your Kingdom in Heaven here on Earth.
Please grant us guidance and peace of mind. May we be able to carry out Your work and plan for us, in a way that will give justice to Your love and care for all of mankind.
Amen.
Conclusion
Performing a solemn devotional like this one is definitely a good way to commemorate a holiday like the Good Friday. It helps us to reevaluate the many diverging paths in our lives, and allows us to distinguish the one our Father has chosen for us.
Once done with the whole meditative experience, you can expect a deeper connection with your family, as well as a stronger, more powerful bond with the Lord.
With that, we would like to end this Good Friday devotional with an excerpt from Psalms 27:1-3:
The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war breaks out against me, even then I will be confident.”
Have a blessed Good Friday, everyone!
