Tag: all sinned
Pigs food and the ‘Far country’
Scripture reading for March 31st: Joshua 5-8, Psalm 14, Luke 15
Luke 15:11-16 “And He said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey to a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into the field to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.”
Sin is a universal problem. There are none righteous for all have sinned like the prodigal son in Luke’s Gospel and the nation of Israel in Joshua’s day. Sin, although fun for a season, always takes us to the ‘far country’ of famine, lack, want and slavery. The prodigal son was so hungry that he wanted ‘pig food!’ Israel’s sin brought defeat by their enemies. God sees it all and knows what has gone on! Like the father of the prodigal, He is watching and desiring our return to Him. He often allows the famines and pig food to bring His children to repentance and restoration. If you are eating ‘slop’ today, why not return to Father with humility and faith.
Joshua 7:11-12 “Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies.”
Prayer: Father God, I too have gone astray and gone to the far country. There I came to my senses and returned to You and confessed my sin. Your mercy and restoration won my heart! I gave my heart and life to You as an act of worship and received the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Send me to those in the ‘far country’ who need Good News of a God Who freely gives forgiveness and restoration!
Psalm 14:2-3 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
The Cost of a Soul
ForScripture reading for February 19th: Numbers 7-10, Mark 8
Key Scriptures: Mark 8:36-38 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Jesus was teaching His disciples about the worth of a single soul. All the money in the world could not purchase a soul. There wasn’t any price in earthly things that could buy a person freedom for his soul. That is because all had sinned and were under the sentence of death. When the final judgment comes and Jesus returns, each person will either confess Jesus as Lord or forfeit their souls to eternal punishment. Even the Levites had to offer blood sacrifice for their atonement.
Numbers 8:12 “Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for the sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the Lord to make atonement for the Levites.”
Prayer: Lord, Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son as atonement for our sins. It is hard for me to understand how you could place that value on me and all people of the world. Amen.
Sin through Adam, Righteousness through Christ!
Scripture reading for June 20th: Romans 5
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Romans 5:12,18-19 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—. . .” “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”
Paul carefully explained how universal sin was because of Adam’s original sin. Adam’s one act of sin resulted in death to all mankind. This death was eventually physical death but ultimately spiritual death or the second death of complete separation from God in the Lake of Fire. But God, in His love and mercy, provided a way of escape from death by sending His Only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was perfectly obedient to His Father and fulfilled the Law completely, becoming the perfect substitute to pay the penalty for sinful man. Jesus obeyed His Father, even to dying for our sins on the cross in order that all who believed would be made righteous!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers must hold fast to these basic truths of the Gospel message and true doctrine. These simple truths bring true salvation to both Jew and Gentile! “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.” (Proverbs 2:6-8)