Standard

Posted by

Posted on

December 4, 2023

Posted under

Bible Stories, God's Plan, God's Promises, Holidays & Holy Days, Patience & Perseverance

OH COME, IMMANUEL (1) – PROMISES MADE

Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. … I will destroy all the weapons used in battle, and your king will bring peace to the nations. His realm will stretch from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. [Zechariah 9:9,10 (NLT)]

O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

Advent wreathYesterday was the first Sunday in Advent—a season when Christians throughout the world prepare for the coming of Christ. For most of my life, I attended liturgical churches where, on each of the four Sundays in this season, we’d sing “Oh, Come, Oh Come, Immanuel” as the Advent candles were lit. Although this song is sung by 21st century Christians, its words easily could have been sung by 1st century Jews. Immanuel means “God with us” and, after centuries of being subject to pagan nations, they yearned for God to come and ransom their captive land.

They certainly wondered when God would fulfill the promise made to David 1,000 years earlier. Found in 2 Samuel 7, God promised David a secure homeland for the people of Israel; assured him of a never-ending dynasty; that one of his descendants would build God a house and sit on the royal throne; and that the descendant would have a Father/son relationship with God. God’s promise ended with these words: “Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.”

“Forever” meant the promise was eternal and absolute. With no restrictions placed upon the promise’s fulfillment, it didn’t depend on the obedience of David or Israel. This promise rested solely on God’s faithfulness and it was this promise that became the basis for Israel’s hope of a Messiah—the anointed one who would deliver Israel from God’s enemies.

No timeline for the fulfillment of God’s promise was given and, in the thousand years that followed, Israel was anything but free of enemies and opposition. The nation divided, its two kingdoms fought one another, the northern kingdom was exiled to Assyria, the southern to Babylon, and David’s earthly dynasty ended.

When the exiles returned after Persia defeated Babylon, no heir of David sat on the throne and Judah was just a tiny part of Persia’s vast empire. The Old Testament leaves Jewish history around 432 BC in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah with the Temple rebuilt and Jerusalem’s walls reconstructed and closes with the prophetic voices of Zechariah and Malachi.

Prophesying about Israel’s future, Zechariah spoke of a coming king and the restoration of God’s people. God promised, “I will strengthen Judah and save Israel; I will restore them because of my compassion. It will be as though I had never rejected them, for I am the Lord their God, who will hear their cries.” [10:6] The prophet Malachi relayed God’s promise of two messengers. The first would prepare the way for the Lord and the second, the one for whom the people longed, would be the messenger of the covenant—the Lord Himself.

Because only one page in our Bibles separates the book of Malachi from that of Matthew, we may not realize that about 500 years pass in the turn of that page. There were nearly five centuries of silence from God and His prophets until we hear a voice like that of Elijah, in the Judean wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord.

Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming. [Malachi 3:1 (NLT)]

Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!” [Isaiah 40:3 (NLT)]

Copyright ©2023 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 30, 2023

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Obedience, Patience & Perseverance, Today: Make it Count, Wisdom & Guidance

REACH FOR THE CROWN

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. [1 Corinthians 9:24-26 (ESV)]

Like their parents, my youngest grands like to race and recently did this year’s 5K “Hot Chocolate” run. When Paul referred to running, he wasn’t referring to fun runs like theirs or a marathon like the one their parents ran nor were his boxing and wrestling references to the sports we know today. His allusions were to the Panhellenic games and Olympics which were well known throughout the Roman Empire in his day.

The modern Olympics are a secular event but the ancient Olympics were as much a religious festival as a sporting one. Held to honor Zeus, cheating was an offense to the gods and breaking any rule was a sacrilege. The athletes (along with their brothers, fathers, trainers, and judges) vowed before an enormous statue of Zeus that they’d observed all the rules of training for at least ten straight months and would use no unfair means to win. Just as those athletes did not want to dishonor Zeus, Paul did not want to dishonor Jesus with his “race” and he wrote of conducting himself honorably so he wasn’t disqualified.

Paul’s mention of self-control takes on deeper meaning when we consider the athletes’ rigorous training and the discipline and self-denial required to maintain their strict diet and demanding physical regimen for ten straight months. Some athletes even remained celibate during training. If they are going to finish their race, Christ’s followers need that same level of self-discipline, diligence, obedience, effort, focus, and full commitment to God and His kingdom but for a lifetime rather than ten months! Ancient athletes competed in the nude and barefoot on a sand surface. Even though we run our faith race in clothing, let’s remember that we are completely naked before God and nothing is hidden from Him!

The marathon is a modern Olympic event and the ancient foot races were much shorter, ranging from about 210 yards (the length of the stadium) to 2.8 miles (less than a 5K run). Such short races meant there was little chance to catch up if one fell behind. Since any race longer than the length of the stadium meant runners had to make a sharp 180-degree turn around a post, no runner wanted to be caught in the pack when making that turn! Runners had to start strong and push forward with all their might. While our faith race lasts longer, Christians need to strain forward and press on with that same intensity if we hope to reach our goal.

In a special race called the hoplitodromos, men ran from a quarter to a half mile while wearing a soldier’s  helmet, shield, and greaves which meant carrying an additional 17 to 30 pounds. Depending on the race’s length, runners made one to three sharp turns and they often fell when their shields got entangled at the post. Knowing about the hoplitodromos gives deeper meaning to the admonition in Hebrews 12 to “lay aside every weight” slowing us down.

The brutal combat sports had no rest periods, water breaks, or time limits and bouts could last hours. Fighters risked injury, disfigurement, and even death. Other than biting, eye gouging, or attacking the genitals, just about everything else was allowed. With no holds barred and no weight classes, a wrestling match usually ended with broken bones. Boxers wore just a pad of leather over their knuckles and a man could be hit when down. The winner wasn’t determined by points or decision but by the complete submission or incapacitation of his opponent. When Paul referred to boxing, his readers knew that the fighter who shied away from his opponent or punched at air would not survive!

Testing an athlete’s ability to endure pain as much as his fighting skill, the pankration combined wrestling and boxing. In this brutal bloody contest, even groin kicks and hits were allowed. When Paul wrote of wrestling against the forces of evil or fighting the good fight of faith, he wasn’t talking about fighting under the Queensbury rules. He was speaking of a no-holds-barred-knock-down-drag-out brawl in harsh conditions—a battle that ended only when the opponent—Satan—was defeated!

With no teams, weak athletes couldn’t be carried to victory by stronger members of the team. Even though Christians collectively are the Church and the body of Christ, each person is responsible for running their individual race and fighting their individual battles. In the end, like the ancient Olympic athletes, we alone are responsible for how we run the race and fight the fight.

Even though my grands weren’t the first to cross the finish line in their recent 5K, they received medals along with a huge cup of cocoa, a banana, Rice Krispie treats, chocolate dip and a cookie (along with a hoodie)—which is more than the ancient Olympic athletes got! Back then, there was only one winner in each event and all he received at Olympia was a crown of olive leaves. For the chance to get one of those perishable crowns, athletes spent nearly a year training for a race less than the one my grands ran or for a fight that probably left them injured or disfigured. Only victors were honored by their home cities. As for the others—regardless of how honorably they competed, they returned home with their heads hanging in disgrace.

As Christians, no matter how slowly we run or often we stumble and regardless of how battered we get or frequently we’re knocked to the ground, if we are still running the race and fighting the fight until our dying breath, we will have won! Instead of being called up to the judge’s seat to receive a perishable crown of leaves, we will be called up to receive an imperishable crown of righteousness from the Lord Himself! Rather than returning to our hometowns with heads hanging in shame because we weren’t the strongest or fastest, we will go to our heavenly home as victors in Christ!

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)]

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. [2 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV)]

Copyright ©2023 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.
Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 27, 2023

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Patience & Perseverance, Today: Make it Count

ENDURANCE 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. [Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)]

Last October, we went north to watch our son and daughter-in-law run the Chicago Marathon. This 26.2-mile race passes through 29 Chicago neighborhoods and the city’s streets were lined with spectators ringing bells, beating drums, holding signs, cheering, and applauding as the runners ran past. Like us, some were there to cheer on specific runners but many were there to encourage all who were running. When we saw Sam and Nina, they were nine miles into their run and had stripped off the jackets, gloves, and hats they’d been wearing earlier that morning. The whole scene reminded me of today’s verse from Hebrews in which the author likens Christian living to running a race with endurance.

Of course, when Hebrews’ author refers to witnesses, he’s referring to the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 rather than spectators. Nevertheless, like marathon runners who can grow discouraged as the miles take their toll, we all need encouragement as we face trials and troubles in our faith journey. Rather than onlookers cheering from the sidewalk, it’s our brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage and pray for us in our challenges. Instead of discarding extra clothing or water bottles as do runners, we must strip off the hindrances and burdens—things like doubt, resentment, wealth, unbelieving friends, and guilt—that can cause us to stumble in our run.

When telling his readers to run their race with endurance, the writer used hupomoné, a Greek word describing someone who remains loyal to their purpose and refuses to veer off from it even when faced with great trials and suffering. Although running 26.2 miles is no easy task for even elite athletes, we saw runners of all ages, shapes, and sizes. There were blind runners with guides and several runners who were missing limbs. Some people raced in their wheelchairs while others raced while pushing loved ones in wheelchairs. Some runners wore tee shirts celebrating their recovery from cancer and one man, wearing a leg brace, wore a tee saying he’d broken his leg in February! Each runner faced their own unique challenges and, even at the 9-mile point where we stood, some were struggling to continue. Nevertheless, in spite of their individual trials, more than 98% of the day’s 48,944 runners had enough endurance to finish the race.

Little did we know when we saw the first runners speed by that we were witnessing the breaking of a world record. In only his third marathon, Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum completed the 26.2 miles in two hours (2:00:35)! His closest competition was nearly 4 minutes behind him and wasn’t even in view when Kiptum crossed the finish line! Kiptum certainly exhibited endurance in his run as did Sam and Nina in their four-hour run. But, when reading about the race later, I discovered the real meaning of hupomoné in a story about a woman named Gabriela who ran her seventh marathon that day.

Kiptum, Sam, and Nina had crossed the finish line by the time this 57-year-old passed the 9-mile mark. By then, the spectators had departed, the streets were being opened for traffic, and she had to continue her run on the sidewalk. Nevertheless, Gabriela persisted as she has for the last seven years. One year, it took her ten hours to complete the race and, by the time she got to the finish line, it wasn’t there and nobody remained to applaud her effort or award her a medal. Nevertheless, finishing dead last didn’t deter Gabriela and she continued to do the marathon. This year, the determined woman finished in time to get a medal and achieved her personal best with a 6:56:19! Her optimistic advice to other marathoners is simple: “Keep going, never quit, and maybe next year will be better!” To Gabriela, it’s not about being the fastest—it’s simply about finishing the race—even if it means finishing in last place! Although Kelvin Kiptum, Sam, and Nina exhibited endurance in their runs, it is Gabriela’s example that defines hupomoné.  She showed that it’s not about how fast we run; it’s about never giving up!

Motivation is enough to start the race but it is endurance that finishes it! Indeed, “let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.  And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. [2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT)]

Copyright ©2023 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.
Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 23, 2023

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Holidays & Holy Days, Prayer, Thanks & Praise

GIVING THANKS  – Thanksgiving 2023

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. [Psalm 9:1-2 (ESV)]

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! [Psalm 100:4 (ESV)]

wild turkeyWhile browsing a bookstore (yes, they still exist), I came across a book offering more than 100 ways to say “Thank you.” It suggested ways to express one’s appreciation for milestone celebrations, business opportunities, assistance, social events, and assorted gifts. It even offered “damage control” for tardy thank you notes. There also were chapters devoted to topics like stationery, envelopes, and internet etiquette. One chapter offered a “thank you thesaurus” complete with several “glowing superlatives and energetic adjectives.”

Like the book’s author, I firmly believe in writing thank you notes and, for the most part, still write them by hand. Nevertheless, I find it difficult to believe anyone needs a 160-page book to help them express their thanks. Granted, I haven’t attended a debutante charity ball nor have I received an ambassador’s invitation to a reception, so I probably travel in a different circle than the author. Nevertheless, if such occasions should arise, I now know where to find the perfect wording for my thank you note.

Some of us may be etiquette-challenged but, fortunately, there’s no official protocol for thanking God. We certainly don’t need a thesaurus or a list of vivid superlatives and adjectives for our prayers. Since God is the one who does the mountain moving, we don’t need the author’s list of “power words that move mountains.” Moreover, we don’t need to know the “do’s and don’ts of using honorifics.” Although we should remember that Jesus does not have the middle initial of “H” and that God’s last name isn’t “Dammit,” simply addressing God by any one of His Biblical names works fine.

I agree with the author that our thanks should be specific; simply saying “thanks for the many blessings” is way too generic for our generous God. Even so, I think God already knows if the pink cashmere sweater looks fantastic with the new beige skirt or that the blender will be put to good use when making our morning smoothie.

Along with guidance in writing thank you notes for things like job interviews, birthday presents, condolences, party invitations, and house visits, the author included ways to express thanks for opportunities, love, friendship, continued loyalty, for “being there” and for “saving me from myself.” While just about every reason to thank people was covered, had she been writing about thanking the Almighty, the author missed a few important occasions. There were no sample letters for disappointments, delays, illness, challenges, difficult people, or pain—the sort of things the Apostle Paul might call “thorns.”

Breaking the author’s rules of proper etiquette, we can tell God we don’t care for His gift, we’d prefer something else, or we’d like to return it for something else. Nevertheless, Scripture tells us we are to give thanks in all circumstances and it’s expressing thanks during the unwelcome things that pose a problem for most of us. Even though it’s not easy, we must have thankful hearts in the midst of all that our loving God has put on our plates!

When offering thanks to God, we don’t need to fret about the proper length, right superlative, perfect stationery, ink color, or even our spelling. There are only two rules when thanking Him. The first one is simple: just do it! Never miss an opportunity to give thanks. Praise and thanksgiving are to be a part of our lives—at all times and in all circumstances. Let’s never limit giving thanks to one day a year! Even without the turkey and dressing, every day should be a day of thanksgiving! Second, while our prayers of thanks don’t have to be as eloquent as David’s, they should be as frequent and as heartfelt.

The thankful heart sees the best part of every situation. It sees problems and weaknesses as opportunities, struggles as refining tools, and sinners as saints in progress. [Francis Frangipane]

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. [1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)]

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. [Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)]

Copyright ©2023 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.
Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 20, 2023

Posted under

Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Sharing Our Faith

THE POTLUCK

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. [Acts 2:42 (NLT)]

It was while Jesus and the disciples were eating the Passover meal that the Lord instituted the Eucharist. The 1st century church followed His lead by celebrating the Eucharist in the context of a communal meal. The wealthier contributed the food and portions were set aside for the sick, poor, and widowed. Nourishing both body and soul while building a sense of community, these fellowship meals were known as agape or love feasts!

Although Luke wrote of the church sharing “their meals with great joy and generosity,” it didn’t go as smoothly in Corinth. Instead of gathering all the food together, dividing it among the participants, and eating together, people only ate and drank what they brought for themselves and some over-indulged in wine! The wealthy ate more and better than the poor and some even went hungry. Rather than building a sense of community by erasing the differences in social class, such rudeness and disparity caused division and hard feelings within the church and the Apostle Paul took the Corinthians to task for neither sharing nor caring when they gathered. [1 Cor 11:20-34] 2 Peter 2:13 and Jude 12 also refer to these fellowship meals when warning about the false teachers who attended such gatherings.

Although the practice of agape meals declined by the 4th century, something similar to the agape, love feast, or fellowship meal can be found in the modern church potluck. While “potluck” initially meant the meal an unexpected guest might get—the luck of whatever was in the pot—during the Depression years, it took on the meaning of a communal meal at which all attending brought a dish to share. Our northern church hosted mid-week Lenten potlucks but our Florida church always hosts a potluck the week before Thanksgiving Day.

Last week’s dinner got me thinking about the way a potluck resembles the Church. A potluck means a vast assortment of food prepared and served in any number of ways. Dishes will range from pierogis and baked ziti to empanadas and Swedish meatballs. Sides will include everything from Waldorf salad, deviled eggs, and baked beans to Jello, scalloped potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and macaroni salad. Desserts will range from peanut butter cookies and chocolate cake to lemon bars and apple pie. Although it seems an odd mix, if everyone brought the same food, the meal would be boring and, if everyone’s offerings were dumped into one pot, it would be even worse! By allowing each dish to reflect its own texture, color, and flavor, this strange assortment of food comes together to make a cohesive and delightful meal. While some may prefer apple pie to pumpkin or mac ‘n cheese to green bean casserole, everyone’s offerings are welcomed, appreciated, and respected.

That diversity of food reflects the diversity of people within the Church—the regions from which we come, our nationalities, and our diverse backgrounds, preferences, and traditions. Just as a potluck encompasses a variety of food, the church consists of a collection of unique people as different from one another as is ham from a vegan casserole! Each person brings their distinctive personality, ethnicity, interests, gifts, and politics. While we may have our preferences, everyone is welcomed, appreciated, and respected. When diverse individuals come together as a church, they become the body of Christ in the same way a potluck’s various dishes became a cohesive meal! It’s not their sameness that unites Christians—it’s their love of Jesus!

The Christian’s love for his neighbor along with the generosity, hospitality, and fellowship found in Christ’s church are seen in a potluck. Each dish is prepared with love and care and everyone brings much more than they possibly could consume themselves. Unlike the Corinthians, they bring excess food with the express purpose of sharing it (and any leftovers) with others! Everyone’s gifts are as welcome in the Church as they are at a potluck! No one eats alone at a potluck and no one is alone in the Church—we are blessed by our brothers and sisters in Christ. At a potluck, even when we don’t know someone at our table, by the time the meal is over, we will have dined with friends! In the same way, when we come to the Lord’s table, we are one in the Spirit with all who partake of the Eucharist.

A potluck, like the Church, nourishes both body and soul! While the agape or love feast is no longer a regular part of Christian worship, you’re sure to find both love and feast in Christ’s Church—especially at a potluck! Let us break bread together.

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. [Acts 2:46-47 (NLT)]

Copyright ©2023 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.
Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 16, 2023

Posted under

Bible Stories, God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, God's Word: The Bible, Miracles, Salvation: A New You

UNCLEAN – Mark 5 (Part 2)

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” [Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NLT)]

little blue heronThe book of Leviticus outlined several things that could make someone ceremonially or ritually unclean. These things included bodily discharges, touching a corpse, and skin infections, as well as contact with any unclean person or thing. By Jesus’ day, even entering a Gentile’s home made someone unclean. Anything and anyone an unclean person touched became unclean and, anyone who touched them or what they touched also became unclean.

People deemed unclean were barred from participating in worship, offering sacrifices, and having access to the Temple. Because ritual impurity was contagious, anyone unclean had to remain separated from the community. Purification ceremonies were required before returning to a state of ritual cleanness and they varied with the severity of the uncleanness. Because uncleanness could come from normal bodily functions or factors beyond their control, even devout Jews became unclean at some time. Nevertheless, people didn’t deliberately put themselves in situations that would make them unclean. Jesus was the exception to the rule!

Along with their miraculous restoration, the three people Jesus healed in Mark 5 have something else in common—their ritual uncleanness. Living among the dead in the burial caves made the demoniac unclean. Since pigs fed on the hillside near him, he also was unclean because of contact with them. Considering the demoniac’s wild behavior, he probably was soiled by his or the pigs’ feces or urine which also made him ritually unclean (as well as filthy). Jesus, however, didn’t see an unclean Gentile demoniac; he saw a child of God who desperately needed to be freed from Satan’s control!

While Jesus was on the way to Jairus’ home to heal the man’s daughter, He was approached by a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years. Because her bodily discharge made her ritually unclean, she was a pariah who shouldn’t have been out in public. Just by touching Jesus’ robe, she would have passed her uncleanness to Him but, rather than rebuke the woman for her action, He called her “Daughter,” commended her faith, and healed her.

While Jesus was speaking to the bleeding woman, messengers arrived to tell Jairus his daughter was dead. Undeterred, Jesus continued to the man’s home and went into the room where the dead girl lay. Even though He could raise the dead with just a word (as He did with Lazarus), Jesus deliberately held the child’s hand before telling her to get up.  Although having direct contact with a corpse made Him ritually unclean, the moment He took her hand, she transformed from an unclean dead body into a living child.

Those weren’t the only times Jesus put His concern for people before ritual purity. He offered to go to the Roman centurion’s home to heal the man’s servant even though entering a Gentile’s home would make him ceremonially unclean. When Jesus returned to the Gerasenes, he had no qualms about laying hands on a Gentile deaf man. Perhaps the most shocking of Jesus’ actions is found in Mark 1 when a leper kneeling before Him asked to be made clean. In an amazing display of compassion, Jesus deliberately reached out and touched the man to heal him. Rather than being made unclean by the leper, the leper was made clean by Jesus’ touch!

Ritual impurity made people unfit to be in the presence of God. Although many of the things Jesus did would have made a normal Israelite impure, we never read of Him undergoing any sort of purification ritual. Jesus, however, wasn’t an ordinary Israelite. He didn’t need to be purified to enter into the presence of God; He was God! Rather than becoming polluted by touching the unclean, Jesus transformed their impurity to purity because His holiness was contagious! In the New Covenant, people’s purity no longer depends on external regulations; it now depends on the cleansing power of Jesus Christ. His purity is greater than our impurity! Thank you, Lord.

So then, my brothers and sisters, we have boldness to go into the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus. He has inaugurated a brand new, living path through the curtain (that is, his earthly body). We have a high priest who is over God’s house. Let us therefore come to worship, with a true heart, in complete assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. [Hebrews 10:19-22 (NTE)]

Copyright ©2023 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.