Jesus Is the Ultimate Sin Offering

Scripture: Leviticus 4: 1-3

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.

Scripture Commentary: In the Old Testament a bull without defect died as the sin offering

In this chapter God gave Moses instructions for the forgiveness of sin. Everyone was to bring a bull without defect as a sin offering. This covered a person’s sins, both known and unknown/unintentional.

Have you ever done something wrong without realizing it until later? Although it was not intentional, it was still sin. As God did with the Israelites, He makes us aware of our sin. The difference between us and the Israelites in the Old Testament is that we don’t have to kill a bull and take its blood to church to burn as a sin offering.

When Jesus was crucified on the cross, He was the final sin offering. When we sin, we can go directly to our Lord and ask for forgiveness. He covers our unintentional sins and those sins we commit in weakness; however, we must truly repent and seek forgiveness.

Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. Don’t forget it!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Leviticus Chapter 4

Although We Live Many Years, We Will Live With God Forever

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11: 7-10

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Scripture Commentary:

Solomon encourages us to rejoice in every day but to remember that eternity is far longer than a person’s life span. We may live many years; however, our days are numbered. The wise person does not think only about the present moment and its impact; s/he takes the long range view toward eternity.

Approach your decisions from God’s perspective and consider their impact both years from now and into eternity.

Live with the attitude that although our lives are short, we will live with God forever.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 11

Join the Race to Win Souls for Christ

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9: 10-12

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

Scripture Commentary: The race isn’t for the swift nor is the battle for the strong

Who are you going to serve from the grave? What can you say, and who is listening? No one because you are dead.

You are to serve Our Lord Jesus Christ while you live. If you live for worldly things then you are living finitely with sin twisting your life, making it something that God did not intend. The world honors wealth, attractiveness, and success above wisdom.

Be swift, strong and wise in doing God’s work. If you are about God’s work, you aren’t focused on difficult situations where the swiftest or the strongest don’t win, where the wise go hungry, and where the intelligent aren’t rewarded with wealth or honor.

Your reward is in knowing you are serving God for the purpose of saving souls. God has given you the wisdom to do His work. If you work for Jesus, you are rewarded both here on earth and in heaven.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 9

The Consequence of Knowing Good and Evil

Scripture: Genesis 3: 4-6

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Scripture Commentary: Does knowing the difference between good and evil make the choice any easier to make?

This is the first recorded decision made by man and woman. This is the black box, the soul and spirit that God has given us to record what we do with our life. We can either lie or tell the truth to each other; we can choose between good and evil. Just know that you cannot lie to God.

Are you ever so convicted after doing something wrong that you can’t look yourself in the mirror? Satan tried to make Eve think that sin is good, pleasant, and desirable. The knowledge of good and evil seemed harmless to her. People usually choose wrong because they have become convinced that those things are good. If it feels good, then it must be good.

Our sins don’t always appear ugly to us. The so-called pleasant sins are the hardest to avoid. We can’t always prevent temptation, but remember that temptation does not come from God.

There is always a way of escape. Recognize and confess your sin to God. He will always forgive a repentant heart.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Genesis Chapter 3

Praise God with trumpet, harp, organs and cymbals

Scripture: Psalms 150: 1-6

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Scripture Commentary: Make joyful sounds unto the Lord with your trumpet, harp, and cymbals

In a way, the book of Psalms parallels our spiritual journey through life. It begins by presenting us with two roads: the way to life and the way to death. If we choose God’s way to life, we still face both blessings and troubles, and joy and grief, and success and obstacles.

Throughout it all, God is at our side, guiding, encouraging, comforting, and caring. As the wise and faithful person’s life draws to an end, he or she realizes clearly that God’s road is the right road. Knowing this will cause us to praise God for leading us in the right direction and for assuring our place in the perfect world God has in store for those who have faithfully followed Him.

We have a choice to follow Our Lord Jesus Christ, do nothing, or follow a road to hell. Jesus died for our sins, and as a result, we can be with Him.

What road are you on in your life?
Psalms Chapter 150

Sow Your Seed in the Morning

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11: 1-6

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Scripture Commentary: Sow to please the spirit*

In these verses Solomon summarizes that life involves both risk and opportunity. Because life has no guarantees, we must be prepared. “Cast your bread upon the waters” means that we must seize life’s opportunities.

He who observes the wind will not sow. In other words, waiting for perfect conditions leads to inactivity. If you wait for the perfect time and place for personal Bible reading … or if you wait for a perfect church … you’ll never read the Bible and you’ll never join the church.

Take steps now to grow spiritually. Don’t wait for conditions that may never exist!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 11

*Additional Reading:
Galatians Chapter 6

Praise the Lord While You Live

Scripture: Psalms 146: 1-4

Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Scripture Commentary: I can only complete my assignment while I live

Praise the Lord while you still have the mind, time and ability. Praise the Lord while you live. We are on a path to God or we are on a path to Satan.

Do not put your trust in the images you see daily on your computer or TV/movie screens. These images are only for a moment. Do not let worldly things come between you and our Lord Jesus Christ

The Word of God is the truth and is forever. Jesus is the truth and the light to eternal peace with God.

We are but a vapor, but before we disappear we have an assignment to spread the Gospel. You must be saved to do this – you must believe that Jesus was raised from the dead.

Once you have departed this life, you can no longer talk about Our Lord. Talk about the Lord while you can.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 146

We Must Acknowledge Our Wickedness and Change Our Ways

Scripture: Jeremiah 14: 17-18, 20-21

Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.(17) If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.(18) We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.(20) Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.(21)

Scripture Commentary: It’s not easy to acknowledge our wickedness

Jeremiah interceded for the people. He asked God if Judah’s repentance might bring His help, but God refused. The people’s insincerety, wickedness, and stubbornness parted them from God. They knew God wanted to bless them, and they knew what God required from them in order to receive the blessing. The people wanted God to do his part but they did not want to do theirs.

Do you think, for a moment, God forgot his covenant with them? Do you think He would ever forget His promise to us? God never forgets, but we constantly forget our covenant with him. It’s easy to express sorrow for wrong actions, especially when we want something. It’s not easy to acknowledge our wickedness and stop the wrong action.

God will forgive those who are truly repentant, but hypocrites will be severely punished. You must identify your wrong action, ask for forgiveness, and make a change in your life. That is true repentance.

Remember these three important lessons:
1) We can reveal our true hearts to God in prayer
2) God expects us to trust him, no matter what
3) We are here to influence others for God

Read the Entire Chapter:
Jeremiah Chapter 14

A Living Dog Is Better Than a Dead Lion

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9: 3-6

This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Scripture Commentary: The living have hope

When Solomon says the dead know nothing and that there is no work, knowledge, or wisdom in death, he is not contrasting life with the afterlife. He is contrasting life with death.

After you die, you can’t change what you have done (or have not done). Considering the uncertainties of the future and the certainty of death, Solomon recommends enjoying life. It is God’s gift to us.

We must accept each day’s measure of work, food, and pleasure to refresh ourselves to continue God’s work.

Jesus rose from the dead and showed us the way to everlasting life; therefore, death is not the end. If you have Christ in your life, it’s the beginning. For Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8: 12)

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 9
John Chapter 8

God Shall Prepare the Way Before Me

Scripture: Malachi 3: 1-6

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Scripture Commentary: The messenger comes to prepare the way for the Messiah

This chapter opening tells of the coming of John the Baptist and of the Messiah. God prepares the way before me that leads me to Him. John prepared the people. The Messiah will return. Pursuing faith refines us like metal, melting away our impurities.

Refinement exposes the reflection of our lives to those around us. During the refining process a child of God appears Christ-like. When we read and apply the Word of God, Jesus tells and shows us the pure life that we have with and in Him.

God is always loyal to us in his patience although we have disobeyed and scorned His laws. He accepts our return. God is ready to return to us if we are willing to return to him.

God never leaves us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Malachi Chapter 3