The prophet Nahum said that the Lord "reserveth wrath for His enemies." (Nah. 1:2) Many make the unchanging God to be a fickle, vacillating God when it comes to those He saves. They imagine that some who are His enemies become His friends. This cannot be. The friends of God (His elect) have been His friends for eternity. Though they are in themselves "by nature children of wrath even as others," they have always been the children of God, of grace. What they became in Adam did not change what He had made them in Christ who stood in that everlasting covenant as their covenant Head, Surety and Representative. Without a doubt, they all have acted as His enemies. They all have sought to stand before Him based on their own works of righteousness which they have done. But God never changed toward them and in Christ reconciled them to Himself. "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled." (Colossians 1:21) Reconciliation implies a previous relationship and only friends need to be reconciled! Before Christ came into the world, Abraham was the friend of God. (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23) When Christ came into the world and died the death of the cross, He laid down His life for His friends. (John 15:13) He died as the Surety for His friends. (Proverbs 6:1-3) We did not show ourselves friendly to God but Christ proved to be that Friend that sticks closer than a brother! (Proverbs 18:24)

"Jesus! what a Friend for sinners! Jesus! Lover of my soul;

Friends may fail me, foes assail me, He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Hallelujah! what a Savior! Hallelujah! what a Friend!

Saving, helping, keeping, loving, He is with me to the end."

As Joseph Scriven wrote in his old hymn, " What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!" Christ Jesus is and has always been the Friend of sinners! His friends we are if we do what He commands: Trust Him alone and love the brethren! Gary Shepard

"At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision." Daniel 9:23

The man Gabriel tells Daniel, that it was at the beginning of his supplication he came forth, to show him the matter of this vision. Consequently, it was not for any arguments Daniel had used in prayer: neither was it for the merit of his prayer that the message came. Sweet consideration this to encourage the Lord's people in prayer! For when the Lord sets his people to pray, he is coming forth in mercy to bless; and their prayers become not the motive for divine favor, but the preparation of the Lord's grace in their hearts to qualify them for the mercy. The Lord teacheth them to ask for what he hath already prepared for them, and is about to give, so that the promise is fulfilled; before my people call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24.

Robert Hawker

“A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame” (Prov. 17:3).

Was there ever such a wise and honorable servant as the Lord Jesus Christ (Is.42:1)? Wise in the way, method and means of the salvation of every last one of His bride; why the very wisdom of God is upon His shoulders and He walked, lived and breathed such lofty and supreme wisdom as to both honor His Heavenly Father and get all glory due His name. And for whom did He such things as before mentioned? “Son’s and daughters” who caused shame, that’s who! Shame at birth, shame at every step and every turn, here a little there a little. The stench and shame of our vile corruptions follows us every place we inhabit. But blessed be the all wise and longsuffering servant (Luke 22:27) who rules over us in Love, purpose and grace! And you know what, we who know our selves (sin laden) and know our Redeemer Servant (pure laden); love to be ‘ruled’ over by Him. Sounds a little off center doesn’t it? NOT if you are one of His lambs; yep! We love to be ruled over by this tender, gracious and precious servant of Jehovah. We would have it no other way because we did have it ‘our’ way once…ruled by the world, Satan, and this disgusting flesh, now we only desire to be ruled by Grace and Grace comes from Him who dispenses it to whomsoever He will.

Drew Dietz

The blood which Jesus shed for me,

When hanging on the tree;

Shall never lose its saving pow’r,

Through all eternity, Through all eternity.

When Christ for us was crucified,

The law was satisfied;

‘Tis by that bloody Sacrifice,

Our souls are justified, Our souls are justified.

‘Twas on the cross the Savior bled,

Our Lord and Cov’nant Head,

When hanging on that curs-ed tree,

He suffered in our stead, He suffered in our stead.

What wondrous, condescending grace,

That Christ would take our place;

And fully put the sins away

Of all His chosen race, Of all His chosen race.

Jim Byrd

(Tune: Majestic Sweetness CM)

I do believe that Christ was made sin for His people in the same way He was made a curse for them. Paul says in Galatians 3:13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" He was made sin and made a curse for His people when He was hanged on the tree. When, in His own body, He bore the penalty of our sins on the tree. He was made sin when the Lord laid on Him the sins of His sheep and He laid down His life for them. Death is the wages of sin. Death is because of sin. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is the focal point of the gospel of God's grace and glory. Look at the Savior hanging on the cross. Look and listen for any hint of sin in Himself or change in the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever. You will not see or hear any. Yet, He who knew no sin is being made sin for us. What did that involve? dying in our place as the Substitute for sinners! Cursed is the Man hanging on the tree. Being made sin is the Man dying the death of the cross! If I did not believe this, I would have no hope! Unable to enter into the mysteries of that great transaction between God and our Savior, I look by faith and behold the righteousness of God in Him!