Category Archives: Grace / Forgiveness

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Yom Kippur – Deeper Reflection Through Scriptures

I have been sharing my observance of Yom Kippur as a follower of Christ with a close friend and she highlighted an important aspect of Yom Kippur that may get overlooked by some. It is a day of repentance and atonement. It is a day of fasting. We are also instructed to humble ourselves before the LORD. This is more than just observing some traditional rules like not wearing shoes with leather soles or putting on perfume. It is truly about our heart and our attitude before our Creator.

She shared some scripture the LORD had led her to as she has been observing with her family and I wanted to share it more broadly.

Each year as I observe this solemn holy day, I allow myself to continue to grow and change the approach for my family. There is so much good Biblical content to help lead us in prayer, humility and reconciliation with YHWH that I am embracing more each year the 10 days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur to pray and reflect on this subject with my family. These days are commonly referred to as the Days of Awe. I encourage you to study at least some of the scriptures below as you seek to humble yourself before the LORD.

Do keep in mind as you humble yourself before God, that if you are in Yeshua, you have been forgiven. We still want to be humble and repent, but we can also be thankful that God has already made a way for us to be forgiven.

Daniel 9:4-19 (Daniel)

4I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. 6“Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land.

      7“Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. 8“Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9“To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; 10nor have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets. 11“Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him. 12“Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem. 13“As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth. 14“Therefore the LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the LORD our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.

      15“And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked. 16“O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. 17“So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. 18“O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. 19“O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

1 Chronicles 16:8-38 (David)

Psalm of Thanksgiving

8Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.

      9Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.

10Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.

11Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face continually.

12Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,

13O seed of Israel His servant,
Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!

14He is the LORD our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.

15Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,

16The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.

17He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,

18Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
As the portion of your inheritance.”

19When they were only a few in number,
Very few, and strangers in it,

20And they wandered about from nation to nation,
And from one kingdom to another people,

21He permitted no man to oppress them,
And He reproved kings for their sakes, saying,

22“Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”

23Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

24Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.

26For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.

27Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.

28Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the LORD in holy array.

30Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”

32Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.

33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD;
For He is coming to judge the earth.

34O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

35Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation,
And gather us and deliver us from the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
And glory in Your praise.”

36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
From everlasting even to everlasting.
Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD.

1 Samuel 2:1-10 (Hannah)

Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving

      1Then Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the LORD;
My horn is exalted in the LORD,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

      2“There is no one holy like the LORD,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.

3“Boast no more so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the LORD is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.

4“The bows of the mighty are shattered,
But the feeble gird on strength.

5“Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease to hunger.
Even the barren gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children languishes.

6“The LORD kills and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7“The LORD makes poor and rich;
He brings low, He also exalts.

8“He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor;
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S,
And He set the world on them.

9“He keeps the feet of His godly ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
For not by might shall a man prevail.

10“Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered;
Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,
And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Luke 1:46-55 (Mary)

The Magnificat

46And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,

      47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

49“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.

50“AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION
TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

51“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

52“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.

53“HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.

54“He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,

55As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Additional scriptures you may find enriching:

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, You and You alone are God. There are none like You. None can do the works that You do. Yet You love Your people and have made a way for us to be reconciled to You despite our sins. Thank You for Your grace and mercy shown through the death of Christ for our sins! May You be magnified and glorified in my life. Thank You for your continued mercy on me as a sinner submitted to Yeshua. Thank You for Your Spirit and Your word to guide me as a light unto my path. Help me to walk in repentance and seek diligently after Your ways. Amen. 

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Traditions / Holidays

Scripture Readings to Enrich Yom Kippur

Yom Teruah signals us with the trumpet blast to remind us that the return of the King is nearing. Yom Kippur is a day to come humbly before God and acknowledge our sins, turning from them. The days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur are often called the Days of Awe. This is a good time to reflect on the goodness of God in His forgiveness of our sins through Yeshua. It is also a good time to prepare ourselves to come humbly before God to reflect on any sins in our lives and repent from them. We can gratefully reflect on the sacrifice of Yeshua who has paid our debt for sin. He died so we have forgiveness of sin. We should take care not to be arrogant in regards to receiving forgiveness as if we earned it or deserved it. We don’t. It is a gift. Be humble and thankful.

First and foremost, remember that if we are in Christ, we have already been forgiven.

1 Pet 2:24  and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

I found some additional scripture reading suggestions referenced by Hebrew4Christians. We do not read them all on the day of Yom Kippur, but rather read them in preparation over several days. I find this helps, especially for young children, to be able to digest more of the importance of this Moed, or appointed time.

The scriptures are as follows:

I also encourage you to visit the sites linked below and pull in the videos, scripture, or teaching that helps your family better understand Yom Kippur in full context.  It is very helpful to study more about our Creator’s appointed times as we learn to observe them. Remember, however, we are not begging God for forgiveness, but rather humbling ourselves and thanking Him for already forgiving us through Yeshua.

As you study, remember to separate what is Jewish tradition from what is written in the Bible. The study of tradition can be helpful and enriching, but I find it good to know for myself what is scriptural and what is traditional. When getting started, I focus on the scriptural aspects first. The traditional would then be optional as it fits with and helps or supports the scriptural message.

I have provided a few links to help you get started, but you can search on your own, of course.

 

  • JacobsTent.org is a fellowship that meets in Tennessee and live streams events for Moedim and regular Sabbath services weekly. It is more than just a study, but brings you in to be part of a fellowship worshipping and learning together.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Merciful, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Traditions / Holidays

Explore and Observe Yom Kippur

It is easy to embrace celebrations that are “fun”.  Even holidays that had significant meaning can be overwhelmed by the distractions of celebrating as people focus on making it fun.  Thanksgiving is a great example. It started as a way to come together as a nation to give thanks to the one true God. Now, most people really breeze over the original purpose of Thanksgiving. It is about family, football, and feasting.  I think most people put more time and thought into the food than they do giving thanks to God.

We truly benefit in our relationship with the Lord when we embrace the holy days He created, such as Yom Kippur. We should humble ourselves before Him throughout the year. However, having a day set aside to come humbly before the Lord and reflect on atonement for our sins is a very good idea. It is focused solely on our relationship with our Father and the forgiveness we receive through Yeshua. We are to humble ourselves and contemplate our need for atonement, repentance, and forgiveness from sin. He does not want us getting distracted during this holy day, and thus sets aside another Sabbath day of rest for it.

Leviticus 23:25-32

The Day of Atonement

26The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 27“On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD. 28“You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God. 29“If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people. 30“As for any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31“You shall do no work at all. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. 32“It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.”

I encourage each of you to join me in observing this holy day in which we humble ourselves before God. We should take this opportunity to focus on the wonderful gift God sent in Yeshua. Yeshua died for our sins. Through His perfect life and then death for our sins, He has made it possible for us to be reconciled to YHWH. He was the sacrificial lamb on our behalf. Let us not take Yeshua for granted and miss out on our need for His sacrifice due to our sins.

Romans 3

10as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

On our own, we can never be made righteous. It would be like trying to jump the Grand Canyon. One may be able to jump further than another, but none can span the gap. We can be made righteous only through Christ, who in this canyon metaphor serves as a bridge to enable us to come before the Lord and be reconciled.

I would encourage each of you to study more about our Creator’s appointed times. As you study, remember to separate what is Jewish tradition from what is written in the Bible specifically. The study of tradition can be helpful and enriching, but I find it good to know what is of scripture and what is of tradition. Especially when getting started, I focus on the scriptural first. The traditional would then be optional as it fits with and helps or supports the scriptural message. I have provided a few links to help you get started, but you can search on your own, of course.

I hope that studying and learning about our Creator’s appointed times, and then following them, will be as enriching for you and your family as it has been for me and mine.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to focus on my relationship with You as I observe Yom Kippur. I thank You for forgiveness and grace through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, dying for my sins. Help me to truly repent and live my life for You. Help open the eyes of Your people to Your wonderful ways and lead them into a restoration of all things so that the ways of man would be lessened and the ways of God would be increased. Amen.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Justice / Judgment, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Traditions / Holidays

Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement

Over the course of my life, I have spent a significant amount of time in Catholic, Baptist, and evangelical churches. None of the ones I attended ever even came close to teaching about YHWH’s appointed times, or Mo’edim. They seem determined to stick to popular man-made holidays commonly celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike. As I journeyed into a deeper relationship with the Lord over many years, the Bible has come alive to me. It is amazing how much rich heritage is being missed by the Christian church today. They typically do not teach the whole Bible as still relevant and true today. They may say it is, but their teaching leaves much untouched and untaught.

My family and I find observing the Mo’edim, God’s appointed times, genuinely enriching our relationship with Him. I encourage you to join us. You will have to do some study on your own, however, as churches will not teach it.

The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, is a holy day set aside by YHWH annually for us to focus on atonement for our sins. We are to rest and be humble. It is a permanent statute. These holy days are not just for Jewish people and they are not obsolete. They both look back at what the Lord has already done and look forward to what He will do in the future. As a matter of fact, the day of atonement is now even more significant for those of us who follow Christ as we can focus on the forgiveness we receive through Christ and his sacrifice for us.

Leviticus 23:26-32

The Day of Atonement

     26The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 27“On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD. 28“You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God. 29“If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people. 30“As for any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31“You shall do no work at all. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. 32“It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.”

We need not make animal sacrifices for atonement any longer, as Yeshua has paid the price for our sins once and for all. However, we will still face judgment when we die or Yeshua returns. Let us atone for our sins, repenting and accepting forgiveness from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:10

10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Of course, we can say, that we should acknowledge and repent from sin and accept God’s forgiveness through Christ all year long. That is correct. However, God knew setting this day aside would help to draw our attention to this important matter in a clear and focused way at least once a year.

I still have more to learn about the  Creator’s calendar (often called the Hebrew calendar), but I am learning more each year. You can research a variety of websites that provide information on the Hebrew calendar, several even focus on it from a Messianic or Christian perspective. Keep in mind, the Hebrew calendar starts at sundown and ends at sundown and not “midnight to midnight” as our western calendar does.

It can be overwhelming when you first get started, but just take it in bite-sized chunks and keep seeking to get closer to Him with every step. Because we have changed away from YHWH’s calendar to the Gregorian calendar, there is some debate as to when the appointed times are observed. They reference the Creator’s calendar and not what we are used to. It is clear which days in His calendar are to be recognized, but the challenge comes in converting that into the Gregorian calendar most of us use daily. Which exact date you choose is not the most important aspect to get started, in my opinion.  I suggest researching at the sites below or on your own search and picking one of the dates proposed and getting started. Do not get overwhelmed by trying to learn all the history at once. Just get started, seek the Lord, study His word, and start to experience a deeper relationship with Him.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please open my eyes to the wonderful ways of Your appointed times. Lead me in preparation for Yom Kippur. Show me my sin and help me to turn from it and submit more fully to You. Thank You for the opportunity to reconcile with You through Christ. Thank You that my sins are forgiven and I am washed clean. You are worthy of praise! Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Demons, Doubt / Lacking Faith, Faith / Trusting God, Grace / Forgiveness, Learning To Pray Effectively, Loving / Kind, Merciful

Yeshua, Help My Unbelief!

Praise Yahweh that He sent us a perfect example for us to follow in order to understand how to live in the right relationship with Him. Yeshua demonstrates a marvelous example. I seek to study and learn from His example. Our faith is a key element of effective prayer. Yeshua stressed this over and over in His earthly ministry. However, He also recognizes our failures and treats us with grace and mercy. He knows our faith is not always as strong as it should be.

Pay attention to how Yeshua interacts with the man whose son is suffering in Mark 9. The man does not have absolute faith, but he simply asks Yeshua to help him in his unbelief. Yeshua answers his prayer.

Mark 9:14-29

      14When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. 16And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” 19And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” 20They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22“It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 24Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” 25When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” 26After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. 28When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

It is truly good news that we do not need perfect faith. We can humbly and openly ask our Father in heaven for His help to strengthen our faith. Praise Yahweh for His grace and mercy!

In what areas do you struggle to trust our Father? Come humbly to Him in prayer, in the name of Yeshua, and ask Him to help you in your unbelief.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please strengthen my faith that You are always with me, even in difficult times. Help me to know confidently that You are able to take care of any challenge in my way. Help me to stay strong in my faith even when You choose not to answer my prayers the way I am hoping/expecting. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Father / Yahweh, Grace / Forgiveness, His Timing Not Ours, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Merciful

Yahweh Is a God of Restoration

Yahweh is a God of restoration. Even when He brings discipline to His people that results in challenges and suffering, His heart and His plans are toward restoration.

I am so glad that He forgives and heals and restores! I am glad that my mistakes are not so big that I cannot be reconciled to God.

We should follow this example personally as well with relationships in our lives. There may be times of separation or difficult consequences, but our heart should  be toward restoration of relationships if the person/people involved turn from whatever wickedness or difficulty created the rift in the first place.

If we created the rift, then we should repent, ask forgiveness, and seek restoration.

Jeremiah 33

Restoration Promised

      1Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard, saying, 2“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it, the LORD is His name, 3‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ 4“For thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah which are broken down to make a defense against the siege ramps and against the sword, 5‘While they are coming to fight with the Chaldeans and to fill them with the corpses of men whom I have slain in My anger and in My wrath, and I have hidden My face from this city because of all their wickedness: 6‘Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth. 7‘I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and will rebuild them as they were at first. 8‘I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me. 9‘It will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.’

      10“Thus says the LORD, ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, “It is a waste, without man and without beast,” that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast,

11the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say,
“Give thanks to the LORD of hosts,
For the LORD is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting”;
and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD.

      12“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘There will again be in this place which is waste, without man or beast, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds who rest their flocks. 13‘In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the Negev, in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who numbers them,’ says the LORD.

The Davidic Kingdom

      14‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15‘In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth. 16‘In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.’ 17“For thus says the LORD, ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 18and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to prepare sacrifices continually.’”

      19The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 20“Thus says the LORD, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, 21then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers. 22‘As the host of heaven cannot be counted and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.’”

      23And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 24“Have you not observed what this people have spoken, saying, ‘The two families which the LORD chose, He has rejected them’? Thus they despise My people, no longer are they as a nation in their sight. 25“Thus says the LORD, ‘If My covenant for day and night stand not, and the fixed patterns of heaven and earth I have not established, 26then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.’”

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Consequences of Sin, Discipline / Guidance From God, Father / Yahweh, Grace / Forgiveness, Justice / Judgment, Merciful, Protector / Deliverer, Wickedness / Evil, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Embrace Rather than Reject God’s Message Amidst Adversity

There are several themes of which to take note in Jeremiah 32. Consider them as you read the passage below.

  • Jeremiah brought the true word of God, and people did not want to hear it. He was imprisoned because of it. Do not expect everyone to embrace God’s message or messenger, especially when bringing correction. However, we are still called to carry out God’s instructions and deliver His word, even if it is hard.
  • Sometimes what God asks us to do will seem to have no effect on those to whom He sends us. Nevertheless, we are to do as He tells us.
  • It is not good for God’s people to stir up God’s wrath by rejecting Him and His ways. He is a loving father and will pursue them, even if He needs to discipline them harshly to get their attention.
  • Often, when God corrects us, he is doing it for our own benefit, and that of our children who come after us.
  • Even as God plans correction and rebuke, He has in mind reconciliation of His people to Himself.
  • Nothing is too difficult for God.

Jeremiah 32

Jeremiah Imprisoned

      1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the house of the king of Judah, 3because Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, “Why do you prophesy, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am about to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will take it; 4and Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but he will surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye; 5and he will take Zedekiah to Babylon, and he will be there until I visit him,” declares the LORD. “If you fight against the Chaldeans, you will not succeed”’?”

      6And Jeremiah said, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 7‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you, saying, “Buy for yourself my field which is at Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it.”’ 8“Then Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of the LORD and said to me, ‘Buy my field, please, that is at Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for you have the right of possession and the redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.

      9“I bought the field which was at Anathoth from Hanamel my uncle’s son, and I weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10“I signed and sealed the deed, and called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. 11“Then I took the deeds of purchase, both the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions and the open copy; 12and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel my uncle’s son and in the sight of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, before all the Jews who were sitting in the court of the guard. 13“And I commanded Baruch in their presence, saying, 14‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time.” 15‘For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”’

Jeremiah Prays and God Explains

      16“After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, then I prayed to the LORD, saying, 17‘Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, 18who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name; 19great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds; 20who has set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and even to this day both in Israel and among mankind; and You have made a name for Yourself, as at this day. 21‘You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; 22and gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23‘They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law; they have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do; therefore You have made all this calamity come upon them. 24‘Behold, the siege ramps have reached the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, the famine and the pestilence; and what You have spoken has come to pass; and behold, You see it. 25‘You have said to me, O Lord GOD, “Buy for yourself the field with money and call in witnesses”—although the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’”

      26Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 27“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” 28Therefore thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am about to give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will take it. 29“The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city will enter and set this city on fire and burn it, with the houses where people have offered incense to Baal on their roofs and poured out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger. 30“Indeed the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah have been doing only evil in My sight from their youth; for the sons of Israel have been only provoking Me to anger by the work of their hands,” declares the LORD. 31“Indeed this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My wrath from the day that they built it, even to this day, so that it should be removed from before My face, 32because of all the evil of the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah which they have done to provoke Me to anger—they, their kings, their leaders, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33“They have turned their back to Me and not their face; though I taught them, teaching again and again, they would not listen and receive instruction. 34“But they put their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. 35“They built the high places of Baal that are in the valley of Ben-hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

      36“Now therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine and by pestilence.’ 37“Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, in My wrath and in great indignation; and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety. 38“They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. 40“I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. 41“I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul. 42“For thus says the LORD, ‘Just as I brought all this great disaster on this people, so I am going to bring on them all the good that I am promising them. 43‘Fields will be bought in this land of which you say, “It is a desolation, without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.” 44‘Men will buy fields for money, sign and seal deeds, and call in witnesses in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland and in the cities of the Negev; for I will restore their fortunes,’ declares the LORD.”

Take a few minutes and prayerfully reflect on the themes we highlighted before the scripture passage. Ask God to show you how they apply in your life today.

As you reflect on the discipline God’s people endured as described in this chapter of Jeremiah, consider God’s reasons.

 38“They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. 40“I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.

God was acting for their own good and the good of their children after them. He was not just being vindictive or mean or getting even. Like a good father with his children, God wants what is best for us.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faithful, Grace / Forgiveness, Loving / Kind, Merciful, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness

God’s Faithfulness Offers a Transformative Journey from Brokenness to Abundant Blessings

Jeremiah 31, a pivotal chapter in the book of Jeremiah, carries a profound message of hope and restoration in the midst of turmoil. Against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile and the fall of Jerusalem, the central theme of this chapter revolves around the promise of a new covenant between God and His people.

At its core, Jeremiah 31 envisions the restoration of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Despite the people’s disobedience and the consequences they face, God’s unwavering love and faithfulness shine through. The chapter paints a picture of a triumphant return from exile, where the people are called to rejoice and sing as they journey back to their homeland.

The concept of the new covenant takes center stage, embodying a profound shift from external obedience to an internal transformation. Unlike the old covenant established at Mount Sinai, which was written on stone tablets, this new covenant will be etched onto the hearts of the people. This intimate inscription signifies a deeper connection with God, where forgiveness, redemption, and a renewed relationship become paramount.

Through Jeremiah’s words, God’s promise to forgive sins and remember them no more echoes, highlighting His boundless mercy. The lush imagery of the land’s fertility and the population’s growth paints a vibrant picture of flourishing prosperity. Jeremiah 31 resonates with the unchanging nature of God’s love, demonstrating His unyielding commitment to His people despite their failings.

In essence, Jeremiah 31 encapsulates a message of renewal—a promise that out of adversity, a fresh start awaits. It encapsulates a profound sense of hope, underscoring the idea that even in the face of challenges and exile, God’s covenantal relationship endures. This chapter serves as a timeless reminder that God’s faithfulness prevails, offering a transformative journey from brokenness to abundant blessings.

Jeremiah 31

Israel’s Mourning Turned to Joy

      1“At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.”

      2Thus says the LORD,
“The people who survived the sword
Found grace in the wilderness—
Israel, when it went to find its rest.”

      3The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.

      4“Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt,
O virgin of Israel!
Again you will take up your tambourines,
And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers.

      5“Again you will plant vineyards
On the hills of Samaria;
The planters will plant
And will enjoy them.

      6“For there will be a day when watchmen
On the hills of Ephraim call out,
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
To the LORD our God.’”

      7For thus says the LORD,
“Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
And shout among the chief of the nations;
Proclaim, give praise and say,
‘O LORD, save Your people,
The remnant of Israel.’

      8“Behold, I am bringing them from the north country,
And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth,
Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together;
A great company, they will return here.

      9“With weeping they will come,
And by supplication I will lead them;
I will make them walk by streams of waters,
On a straight path in which they will not stumble;
For I am a father to Israel,
And Ephraim is My firstborn.”

      10Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
And declare in the coastlands afar off,
And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him
And keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.”

      11For the LORD has ransomed Jacob
And redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.

      12“They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion,
And they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—
Over the grain and the new wine and the oil,
And over the young of the flock and the herd;
And their life will be like a watered garden,
And they will never languish again.

      13“Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance,
And the young men and the old, together,
For I will turn their mourning into joy
And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.

      14“I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance,
And My people will be satisfied with My goodness,” declares the LORD.

      15Thus says the LORD,
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
She refuses to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.”

16Thus says the LORD,
“Restrain your voice from weeping
And your eyes from tears;
For your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD,
“And they will return from the land of the enemy.

      17“There is hope for your future,” declares the LORD,
“And your children will return to their own territory.

      18“I have surely heard Ephraim grieving,
‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised,
Like an untrained calf;
Bring me back that I may be restored,
For You are the LORD my God.

      19‘For after I turned back, I repented;
And after I was instructed, I smote on my thigh;
I was ashamed and also humiliated
Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’

      20“Is Ephraim My dear son?
Is he a delightful child?
Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him,
I certainly still remember him;
Therefore My heart yearns for him;
I will surely have mercy on him,” declares the LORD.

      21“Set up for yourself roadmarks,
Place for yourself guideposts;
Direct your mind to the highway,
The way by which you went.
Return, O virgin of Israel,
Return to these your cities.

      22“How long will you go here and there,
O faithless daughter?
For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth—
A woman will encompass a man.”

      23Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Once again they will speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities when I restore their fortunes,
‘The LORD bless you, O abode of righteousness,
O holy hill!’

24“Judah and all its cities will dwell together in it, the farmer and they who go about with flocks. 25“For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” 26At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.


A New Covenant

      27“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast. 28“As I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to overthrow, to destroy and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the LORD.

      29“In those days they will not say again,
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

30“But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.

      31“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34“They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

      35Thus says the LORD,
Who gives the sun for light by day
And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar;
The LORD of hosts is His name:

      36“If this fixed order departs
From before Me,” declares the LORD,
“Then the offspring of Israel also will cease
From being a nation before Me forever.”

37Thus says the LORD,
“If the heavens above can be measured
And the foundations of the earth searched out below,
Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel
For all that they have done,” declares the LORD.

      38“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the city will be rebuilt for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39“The measuring line will go out farther straight ahead to the hill Gareb; then it will turn to Goah. 40“And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it will not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever.”

Take a few minutes in prayer to thank God for His faithfulness in offering a transformative journey from brokenness to abundant blessings to each of us.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Compassionate, Faith / Trusting God, False Prophets / Teachers, Fear / Reverence for God, Grace / Forgiveness, Hope, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Remain Hopeful in God’s Redemption, Even When Things Are Not as You Want

The key theme of Jeremiah 29 is the message of hope and encouragement for the exiled Israelites living in Babylon. The chapter contains a letter from the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish exiles, urging them to settle down, build homes, plant gardens, and seek the welfare of the city they are in. He advises them not to be discouraged by their current situation but to trust in God’s plans for their future. The famous verse in Jeremiah 29:11 emphasizes God’s promise of a hopeful and prosperous future for them: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” The overall message is to remain faithful, patiently endure the exile, and have confidence in God’s ultimate plan for restoration and blessings.

There is also a warning against those who falsely prophesy in the Lord’s name and convince people to believe in a lie because it is more along the lines of what they want to believe… such as the message that the exile will not be long.

Jeremiah 29

Message to the Exiles

      1Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exile, the priests, the prophets and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2(This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the court officials, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.) 3The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying, 4“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, 5‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. 6‘Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. 7‘Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’ 8“For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. 9‘For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD.

      10“For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 11‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’

      15“Because you have said, ‘The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon’— 16for thus says the LORD concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your brothers who did not go with you into exile— 17thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, I am sending upon them the sword, famine and pestilence, and I will make them like split-open figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness. 18‘I will pursue them with the sword, with famine and with pestilence; and I will make them a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse and a horror and a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19because they have not listened to My words,’ declares the LORD, ‘which I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets; but you did not listen,’ declares the LORD. 20“You, therefore, hear the word of the LORD, all you exiles, whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.

      21“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying to you falsely in My name, ‘Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will slay them before your eyes. 22‘Because of them a curse will be used by all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon, saying, “May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire, 23because they have acted foolishly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and have spoken words in My name falsely, which I did not command them; and I am He who knows and am a witness,” declares the LORD.’”

      24To Shemaiah the Nehelamite you shall speak, saying, 25“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26“The LORD has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to be the overseer in the house of the LORD over every madman who prophesies, to put him in the stocks and in the iron collar, 27now then, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who prophesies to you? 28“For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, ‘The exile will be long; build houses and live in them and plant gardens and eat their produce.’”’”

      29Zephaniah the priest read this letter to Jeremiah the prophet. 30Then came the word of the LORD to Jeremiah, saying, 31“Send to all the exiles, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite, “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, although I did not send him, and he has made you trust in a lie,” 32therefore thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants; he will not have anyone living among this people, and he will not see the good that I am about to do to My people,” declares the LORD, “because he has preached rebellion against the LORD.”’”

We can apply this message to our lives as well. Things will not always go the way we want. We are to remain faithful and patiently endure what God leads us through, and have confidence in God’s ultimate plan for restoration and blessings.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Evidence in Scripture, Faith / Trusting God, Grace / Forgiveness, Healer, Merciful, Miracles, Seeking God

Revealing Truth: The Unmistakable Reality of Yeshua’s Miracles and Resurrection

The more I read and study scripture, the more the Holy Spirit reveals to me. In Mark 6:53-55, we could easily spend some time reflecting on the enthusiasm of people seeking Yeshua and how He never turned them away. We could see how they put out a lot of effort to come to Him. They had faith. They were experiencing and witnessing miracles. They pursued Yeshua. They did not sit and wait for Him to come to them. We could reflect on the amazing healing miracles.

But there is another aspect of this scripture I want to focus on today. There is much evidence in the Bible and in other historical documents and archaeological evidence to demonstrate that Jesus was real, was crucified, was buried in a tomb, and then that the tomb was again empty a few days later. We see in scripture the evidence that many, many people saw Him crucified and again saw Him after He rose from the dead and walked among them for 40 days.

Some people, bound and determined to reject Yeshua as God, no matter what evidence God reveals, just make up theories about how to explain the events. In some cases people claim that it was not Yeshua who was crucified, but someone else or it was not Yeshua who was appearing after He rose from the dead, but someone else.

Let us consider what a public figure Yeshua was. He was instantly recognizable to the people. They knew and recognized Him. Thus we also can conclude that it is ridiculous to consider that is was anyone other than Yeshua on the cross or appearing before many witnesses after the crucifixion.

Mark 6:53-55

Healing at Gennesaret

      53When they had crossed over they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. 54When they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55and ran about that whole country and began to carry here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to the place they heard He was. 56Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured.

The evidence proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Yeshua was Messiah. He died for our sins and rose again. There is no other reasonable explanation. Let us be sure to live our lives in such a way that clearly demonstrates to others that we know this to be true. If we know this to be true we should live as Jesus did and follow Him rather than the world and its corrupt version of “right” and “wrong”. Let us hold fast to God’s word revealed in the Bible and shape our lives according to what it teaches and not according to those who dismiss or outright reject the scriptures as meaningless or not true.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for making a way through Yeshua for my sins to be forgiven. Thank You for mercy and grace. Help me never grow cold of being amazed at the healing power You demonstrate and have demonstrated. Help grow my faith. Help me to recognize You at work in the world around me. Amen.

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.