Memory
Scripture of the Week –
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious
standard. Romans 3:23
We
all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
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| It isn't the cross that provides salvation... But Jesus who gave His life for us. |
God, our
Heavenly Father, had a great plan—a free gift. It probably didn’t seem like
such a good “plan” to Jesus. He had to be the sacrificial lamb for our short
comings—but He loved us all enough to be obedient to our Father. He was willing
to be the gift of that sacrificial lamb for all mankind. Luckily, He only had
to do it once—but the gruesome pain of the beating and crucifixion prior to His
death is beyond our comprehension—certainly beyond our level of endurance.
Never during all the sacrifices offered by the Hebrew priests did a lamb have
to suffer like Jesus suffered. Read through Leviticus. Lambs, oxen, birds were
all sacrificed…but none were beaten, ridiculed, and painfully hung on a cross
for the sin of a man or a community. Sure those animals died—but the slitting
of their throat was quick compared to the agonizing death of Jesus on the
cross.
And the result of God's gracious gift is very
different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to
condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even
though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused
death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift
of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and
death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:16-17
God allowed
this sacrifice of His only Son so that we could become pure—like the original
Adam—before sin. Once we have our sins forgiven we can experience the
fellowship that Adam and Eve experienced walking through the Garden of Eden
with God. We don’t have to wait until we die to have a relationship with our
Heavenly Father…and with Jesus, our Savior, and with the Holy Spirit. We can
have it immediately now…with the forgiveness of our sin. Jesus provided that
gift of forgiveness and righteousness. Do you see yourself purified…wearing a
snow white robe? Right now you can stand, spiritually, before our Heavenly
Father—who is eager to hear every word you speak—as you “communicate” and
fellowship with Him.
Prayer ~ Lord – I humbly come before You acknowledging
that I am not who You want me to be—but willing to let You take away my sin. I
especially don’t always communicate in a manner pleasing to You, so I want to
begin a new relationship with You now. Thank You, God, for Your plan and Thank
You, Jesus, for Your obedience. I look forward to the day when You call us all
HOME. Come quickly, Jesus.
Daily
Bible Reading: February 20 – Leviticus 22-23
© 2019 Text and
Photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
www.blueletterbible.org/dailyreading
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