Infinite Wisdom

This is just part of a devotional and I love the words, the concept, and everything in between.

This is encouragement at its finest.

God Bless.

We have a Father in heaven with infinite wisdom. He knew we would be sick beyond recovery from sin, from giving in to “evil desires,” so at great cost he gave us a Savior, “Christ, a lamb without blemish,” chosen “before the creation of the world.” 

Jesus came to pay for our sin by giving his own life on a cross so that we can live now in faith, free of any worries about the outcome of our life. Because of Jesus, our “faith and hope are in God.”

Prayer:

Father, forgive us if we try to be independent from your wise counsel and care. We are blessed by your love for us from before the creation of the world. In Jesus, Amen.

Ultimate Deliverance

Lead me to the cross so I can get the ultimate gift of deliverance.

Sometimes I have to wonder if I truly understand what took place. My answer would be no but I want to. I long to. I strive to. And one day, I will come face to face with the it and my prayer is He will welcome me into the fold.

God Bless.

Ultimate Deliverance

Because of the Cross, there is nothing we struggle with that is without either a purpose or an end.

No struggle need ever again be pointless.

No suffering need ever again be unending.

We never face any assault of flesh, devil, circumstances, or personal weakness, but that God’s hand is present, mighty, and available to work through it all and beyond it all. This doesn’t mean God has planned every bad thing that happens to people. Evil things that are initiated by hell’s hatefulness or by human sin, failure, and rebellion create their own problems. But beyond them all, God’s ultimate deliverance is our promised inheritance.

How to Live Through a Bad Day

Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 5

This is a prayer the Jewish people pray. We could learn a lot from their ways to help strengthen our relationship with the Father without going back under the law.

God Bless.


Home Holidays and Festivals Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 5
Holidays and Festivals


Day 5 (9/29/14)

The Al Chet – 44 mistakes

The Al Chet, a liturgical confession of sins is said ten times in the course of the Yom Kippur-Day of Atonement services. During the afternoon prayers of the day before Yom Kippur; just before sunset on Yom Kippur Eve; twice during each of the following services: the evening service of Yom Kippur eve, the morning service and the afternoon service of Yom Kippur day, and the Musaf service.

Three times in the reciting of the confession we find these words: For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.

If you are not familiar with this prayer, it would be helpful for you to read through it. Perhaps some of what the sages of Israel called upon the Jewish people to repent from will strike a chord in your heart and God will use this to give you an idea of what to confess before Him during this season that will bring about renewal in your heart and soul?

You might try reading through this lengthy prayer with your spouse, a child or good friend. At the end of the prayer, you might pray and assure one another of God’s forgiveness through the Messiah Jesus.

Read it slowly and with heart!

For the sin which we have committed before You under duress or willingly.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by hard-heartedness.

For the sin which we have committed before You inadvertently.

And for the sin which we have committed before You with an utterance of the lips.

For the sin which we have committed before You with immorality.

And for the sin which we have committed before You openly or secretly.

For the sin which we have committed before You with knowledge and with deceit.

And for the sin which we have committed before You through speech.

For the sin which we have committed before You by deceiving a fellowman.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by improper thoughts.

For the sin which we have committed before You by a gathering of lewdness.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by verbal [insincere] confession.

For the sin which we have committed before You by disrespect for parents and teachers.

And for the sin which we have committed before You intentionally or unintentionally.

For the sin which we have committed before You by using coercion.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by desecrating the Divine Name.

For the sin which we have committed before You by impurity of speech.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by foolish talk.

For the sin which we have committed before You with the evil inclination.

And for the sin which we have committed before You knowingly or unknowingly.



For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.



For the sin which we have committed before You by false denial and lying.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a bribe-taking or a bribe-giving hand.

For the sin which we have committed before You by scoffing.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by evil talk [about another].

For the sin which we have committed before You in business dealings.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by eating and drinking.

For the sin which we have committed before You by [taking or giving] interest and by usury.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a haughty demeanor.

For the sin which we have committed before You by the prattle of our lips.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a glance of the eye.

For the sin which we have committed before You with proud looks.

And for the sin which we have committed before You with impudence.



For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.



For the sin which we have committed before You by casting off the yoke [of Heaven].

And for the sin which we have committed before You in passing judgment.

For the sin which we have committed before You by scheming against a fellowman.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a begrudging eye.

For the sin which we have committed before You by frivolity.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by obduracy.

For the sin which we have committed before You by running to do evil.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by tale-bearing.

For the sin which we have committed before You by swearing in vain.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by causeless hatred.

For the sin which we have committed before You by embezzlement.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a confused heart.



For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.



And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a burnt-offering.

And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a sin-offering.

And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a varying offering [according to one's means].

And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a guilt-offering for a certain or doubtful trespass.

And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of lashing for rebelliousness.

And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of forty lashes.

And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of death by the hand of Heaven.

And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of excision and childlessness.

And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of the four forms of capital punishment executed by the Court: stoning, burning, decapitation and strangulation.

For [transgressing] positive and prohibitory commandments, whether [the prohibitions] can be rectified by a specifically prescribed act or not, those of which we are aware and those of which we are not aware; those of which we are aware, we have already declared them before You and confessed them to You, and those of which we are not aware --- before You they are revealed and known, as it is stated:


The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things are for us and for our children forever, that we may carry out all the words of this Torah. For You are the Pardoner of Israel and the Forgiver of the tribes of Yeshurun in every generation, and aside from You we have no King who forgives and pardons. (Quoted at the end of the prayer from Deuteronomy 29:29).


Jewish tradition, as you can see from this ancient prayer of confession, effectively helps us to understand how to confess our sins. Personally, one of the reasons I love the Jewish High Holidays is because it gives me the opportunity to seek spiritual renewal and, as a Messianic Jew, to be reminded each day of the power of the once for all eternal sacrifice of our Messiah Jesus for our sins.



You might further consider the following guidelines to help you during this season of renewal to confess sin, leading to spiritual renewal for believers and perhaps salvation for those who have not yet trusted in the finished work of Yeshua the Messiah at Calvary.



1. Confession should be personal.

2. Confession should be as specific as possible.

3. Confession should be forthright and honest.

4. Confession should lead to a change of heart and behavior.

5. Confession, though personal, can also be offered by a group (a congregation, family, etc.) and should lead to forgiveness of one another.

6. Confession should be based upon the death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah who died in our place, so that God would accept us as blameless in Him.

7. Confession should lead to forgiving oneself.



If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).



Scripture Meditation:



The above is a wonderful verse to meditate upon during this season of the year. It was one of the first verses I learned as a new believer. Memorizing this passage and hiding it in the depth of my soul has helped me immensely during my life as a believer. It is reminds me that forgiveness is not simply for all I had done before I accepted Yeshua, but His forgiveness extends to every additional sin committed before I pass into His presence. What a comfort to know that He never ceases to forgive and that this atonement is not for the past alone, but for the present and the future. I pray the Lord will grant you great encouragement and freedom knowing that the One who died also intercedes for us at all times and that forgiveness for our daily sins is constantly available for the asking.





ARTICLE CATEGORIES
Current Conflict in Israel: Survey
Antisemitism
Evangelism
Holidays and Festivals
International Jewish Communities
Jewish Roots
Israel
Personal Stories
Prophecy


RECEIVE THE LATEST NEWS:


PARTNER WITH US:
Give a gift to support Jewish evangelism

WAYS TO PRAY FOR OUR MINISTRY:
Pray for Chosen People Ministries

PRESIDENT'S BLOG:



LATEST NEWS
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 5
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 3
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 4
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 2
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 1
MOST READ
The Meaning of Passover
About Us
What are Messianic Congregations?
Charles Feinberg Program
Messianic Congregations FAQ



 button-donate-red

Home
About Us
Ministry News
Upcoming Events
Ministry Opportunities
Church Ministries
Graduate Studies
Resources
Messianic Congregations
Donate
Contact us


Chosen People Ministries on Facebook


Chosen People Ministries on Twitter


Copyright © Chosen People Ministries - 2014

Privacy Policy



Mobile Version | Standard Version

Ten Days Awe Devotionals - Day 4

This was yesterday's devotional but since I have made a habit of sitting Sunday aside for God and family, I am posting it today.

It's deep but such great information about what and why for this holiday that I feel like it is important to share.

God Bless.

Home Holidays and Festivals Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 4
Holidays and Festivals
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 4



Day 4 (9/28/14)

The Sacrifices (Karbanot)

Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, described the importance of sacrifice in Leviticus 17:11,

For the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.

During the Ten Days of Awe, we understand that we are marching towards the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the most important sacrifice of the Jewish year; atonement for the sins of the nation would take place on this day. This season of the year, initiated by the blowing of the shofar, is consummated with the Yom Kippur sacrifice.

However, the idea of sacrifice and blood atonement is not easily understood for us 21st century people. Why did the Lord our God require the blood of bulls, rams and lambs as the price of readmission to fellowship with Him? Part of the answer is that the concept of sacrifice includes a cost to someone—a cost that reminds us that there is a price for sin. Disobedience to God degrades our relationship to Him and to one other.

But, there is more to it and this calls our hearts and minds to consider the biblical principle of substitution. Throughout the Hebrew Scripture and until the destruction of the Temple in the year 70AD, the principle of substitutionary sacrifice was understood to restore a balance that the presence of sin had upset. The innocent substitute acts as the means through which “shalom” (peace or completeness) is reestablished between the sinner and God. Therefore, the primary purpose of sacrifice is to allow the estranged person to be drawn once more into unbroken fellowship with God.1

However, traditional and post-Temple Judaism has a problem and understands what was missing! Since the destruction of the Temple, sacrifice could no longer be made as the one and true altar in the Temple was destroyed. How then do Jewish people find reconciliation with God?

The sages declare that in the days without the Temple, Judaism rested upon three pillars–prayer, repentance and works of mercy. However, at the time, these three elements were thought to work in conjunction with the sacrifices. Today…and because we do not have the Temple nor an altar, these three are said to actually take the place of substitutionary sacrifice.

Yet, Jewish memory is not so easy to erase. That is why observant Jews carry out an obscure ritual called kapporot (“covering”). For this ritual, the head of the household will take a live kosher hen or rooster and slaughter it. He will swing the body around his head three times while reciting, "This is my exchange, my substitute, my atonement; this rooster (or hen) shall go to its death, but I shall go to a good, long life and to peace." The fowl, which is sometimes stuffed with coins, is given to the poor for food.2

For followers of Yeshua, neither sacrifices in the Temple nor any other means of reconciliation are needed beyond that of Messiah, whose once and for all sacrifice is more than sufficient to satisfy our need for atonement—provided we receive this priceless gift through our faith in Him. As the writer of the letter to the Hebrews reminds us,

But the Messiah came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:11-15).

Scripture Meditation:

I encourage you to meditate on the above passages of Scripture to help you again appreciate the wonder of God’s love in sending His Son to be our once for all atonement for sin. He did for us what we could never do for ourselves. Whether you be Jewish or part of some other religious faith – if you rely upon your own self efforts to please God you will assuredly fail. We know this in the depth of our souls. We understand that we need our guilt lifted and it is only through the power of His sacrificial atonement that we can be forgiven and enjoy peace with God forever more.



1 “Sacrifices and Offerings (Karbanot) | Jewish Virtual Library,” accessed September 18, 2014, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/qorbanot.html.

2 “The Custom of Kapparot in the Jewish Tradition | Jewish Virtual Library,” accessed September 18, 2014, https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/kapparot.html.







ARTICLE CATEGORIES
Current Conflict in Israel: Survey
Antisemitism
Evangelism
Holidays and Festivals
International Jewish Communities
Jewish Roots
Israel
Personal Stories
Prophecy


RECEIVE THE LATEST NEWS:


PARTNER WITH US:
Give a gift to support Jewish evangelism

WAYS TO PRAY FOR OUR MINISTRY:
Pray for Chosen People Ministries

PRESIDENT'S BLOG:



LATEST NEWS
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 5
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 3
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 4
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 2
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 1
MOST READ
The Meaning of Passover
About Us
What are Messianic Congregations?
Charles Feinberg Program
Messianic Congregations FAQ



 button-donate-red

Home
About Us
Ministry News
Upcoming Events
Ministry Opportunities
Church Ministries
Graduate Studies
Resources
Messianic Congregations
Donate
Contact us


Chosen People Ministries on Facebook


Chosen People Ministries on Twitter


Copyright © Chosen People Ministries - 2014

Privacy Policy



Mobile Version | Standard Version

And the Very Hairs on Your head

Wow, isn't it amazing to think the God of this universe cares about my hair when He has so many other things to think about.

He is always getting blamed for the bad things its time to start mediating and showing the world the good things of God including how wonderful your hair is today!

God Bless.

And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. (NLT) -Luke 12:7 

Yes, you are very important to God. He concerns Himself with many details you may be unaware of. That's because He loves you so much. How awesome is it that we serve a God who knows more minuscule details about each of us and still loves us for who we are? Take a moment to express your gratitude to God for being personally involved in your life. 

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://bit.ly/16uZrQ5

Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 3

Love this...so much good information. Let the trumpet sound!

God Bless.


Home Holidays and Festivals Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 3
Holidays and Festivals
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 3



Day 3 (9/27/14)

Blowing of the Shofar (Shofarot)

As mentioned before, the blowing of the shofar is one of the unique moments that set Rosh Hashanah apart from the other seven biblical festivals. There is so much to learn about the importance of the blowing of the shofar and the lessons God would have us learn from this great moment in the observation of the festival.

For example, in Numbers chapter 10 the sacrifices of the holy day are detailed.

The priestly sons of Aaron, moreover, shall blow the trumpets; and this shall be for you a perpetual statute throughout your generations. When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the Lord your God (Num. 10:8-10).

The blowing of the shofar is a piercing reminder to Israel that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is their God, by covenant, and He should be adored and worshipped. If you look at the passage carefully, especially in the Hebrew, it becomes clear that the shofar was not simply blown to warn Israel of what was coming but according to the text, was also blown to remind God of the value He attached to His relationship with the Jewish people.

The heart of the holiday revolves around the word relationship. God wants us to have a pure relationship with Him, but also with those who are part of our family, neighborhood, workplace, spiritual community – and beyond!

The blowing of the shofar is a call to remember that we belong to God. Our primary relationship in life is as His child and we were created to serve Him. Life is so fast-paced that we can easily forget our primary relationship in light of the incessant demands for relationship placed upon us by others. Of course, we must pay careful attention to those God has given to us to love and care for, but in the process we cannot neglect our relationship with Him. This is one reason I appreciate this season of the year. It almost forces me to remember that my primary relationship is to God.

This is why we are called to repent, as sin is what usually separates us from God. Even if we know His forgiveness and are assured of our place in the age to come – we still easily become detached from the Lord in the midst of everyday business and responsibility. And so part of heeding the shofar blast is to repent and return to the Lord and to ask Him to make your relationship with Him as close and intimate as possible. We know this requires repentance and turning from whatever it is that keeps us away from Him. So, take a moment today and ask the Lord to draw you to Himself and to give you the strength to turn from whatever it is that keeps you from His presence each day.

The same is true for our relationships with others. We have ten days to repent and make things right with our family, neighbors, those we love and whomever it is that we have hurt or offended during the year. We must ask God for the strength to say the words, “I am sorry” and to ask for forgiveness from others, that the Lord would then restore and heal broken or ruptured relationships.

This is not easy and it takes His power and grace – especially in the most difficult of situations. So, who is the person that will be the hardest for you to ask forgiveness of during these ten days? Perhaps it is a husband, wife, child, mother, father, a now more distant relative…or your school mate, coworker, etc. You know who it is! Perhaps you should begin with those who might be a little easier, but make it your goal to at least try, with God’s help, to ask forgiveness of the person you least want to face.

And remember, you do not need to be forgiven to forgive. As God took the initiative and sent His Son to die in our place, so we also need to take the first step. Human relationships are so complicated. So often, mutual forgiveness is needed to restore a broken relationship. But still, you and I must take the first step. We cannot forgive based upon the forgiveness of others, as this counters the very idea of grace. Ask Him for help and take the first step!

Finally, as followers of Yeshua, the shofar blasts also reminds us that this world will not last forever. One day, the Blast will sound from heaven and those who believe will be raised to meet the Lord. As Rabbi Saul – the Apostle Paul writes,

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4: 16-17).


Scripture Meditation:

By meditating on the above verses of Scripture, we will also be reminded of the return of the Lord. His coming is soon and we must live today in light of His return. We will see Him face to face. So, now is the time to repent and return to the Lord, to ask Him to renew our strength and empower us to live pure and holy lives – as this is what it means to prepare His coming. Now is the time to make relationships right by the power of the Spirit and allowing His love to flow through us! The blowing of the shofar reminds us that day will come when it will simply be too late for repentance and reconciliation. We must begin today.

 Tens

ARTICLE CATEGORIES
Current Conflict in Israel: Survey
Antisemitism
Evangelism
Holidays and Festivals
International Jewish Communities
Jewish Roots
Israel
Personal Stories
Prophecy


RECEIVE THE LATEST NEWS:


PARTNER WITH US:
Give a gift to support Jewish evangelism

WAYS TO PRAY FOR OUR MINISTRY:
Pray for Chosen People Ministries

PRESIDENT'S BLOG:



LATEST NEWS
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 3
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 4
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 2
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 1
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Overview
MOST READ
The Meaning of Passover
About Us
What are Messianic Congregations?
Charles Feinberg Program
Messianic Congregations FAQ



 button-donate-red

Home
About Us
Ministry News
Upcoming Events
Ministry Opportunities
Church Ministries
Graduate Studies
Resources
Messianic Congregations
Donate
Contact us


Chosen People Ministries on Facebook


Chosen People Ministries on Twitter


Copyright © Chosen People Ministries - 2014

Privacy Policy



Mobile Version | Standard Version

Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 2

Today's devotional with more good information on the holiday.

God Bless.

Home Holidays and Festivals Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 2
Holidays and Festivals
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 2

Day 2 (9/26/14)

Traditionally, there are three dominant themes described in Jewish tradition that dominate the liturgy and prayers for Rosh Hashanah. The first theme is Kingship (Malchiyot), the second is Remembrance (Zichronot) and the third is the Shofar (Shofarot). Each of these themes is designed to remind us God’s purpose and plan for mankind at the beginning of the New Year.

Kingship

On Rosh Hashanah, we remind ourselves that the Creator of the universe is King of the universe and Lord of our lives.

According to Jewish tradition,

In Malchiyot, just as trumpets are joyously sounded when a king ascends his throne, we sound the shofar as we reestablish God’s dominion over us as our King for another year. This also emphasizes the fact that we must serve the Almighty the same way a servant serves his king -- with absolute and total dedication. This concept is called Kabalat Ol Malchut Shamayim, which means, "Accepting the yoke of Heaven." This type of service is considered most sublime, for we have subjugated our own desires and proclivities to a selfless service of God.

This is also a wonderful reminder to me as a follower of King Yeshua. He is my Lord and King and one day He will come again to reign in His literal Davidic kingdom and the blessings promised to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 will flow throughout the earth and be enjoyed by both Jews and Gentiles. As Paul describes in Philippians chapter 2,

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

Rosh Hashanah is a wonderful time of the year to rededicate yourself to Yeshua and to make sure He reigns on the throne of your life. Are there any particular areas that you continue to control or have you bowed in obedience and asked Him to be Lord in every area of your life? This is a good time to identify the areas of your life you believe are not currently under His dominion. List them, ask God to guide you to see yourself as He sees you and then turn from your self-control, elevating the Lord to His rightful place in every area of your life.

Remembrance

This second theme of the holiday again harkens us back to Genesis 22 – the great story of Abraham’s almost-sacrifice of his son Isaac, which is read in the synagogue during the holiday. The rabbis reflect upon this encounter between Abraham and God, which took place on Mount Moriah where the Temple would later be built and, of course, where Jesus would be sacrificed.

Again, according to tradition,

In Zichronot we call upon to God to “remember” the dedication of our ancestors as exhibited by both Abraham and Isaac. God commanded Abraham to offer his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice. At the last moment, God informed Abraham that it was merely a test, and instead of sacrificing Isaac he would offer a nearby ram. By blowing the shofar, a ram’s horn, we remind God of the dedication displayed by both Abraham and Isaac.

I am further reminded of the parallels between Isaac and Jesus when I read and study Genesis 22 in the synagogue as part of the High Holiday services. Both Isaac and Jesus were young men who suffered innocently. They were perfectly obedient to their fathers and accepted their roles as sacrifices without complaint. Of course, Isaac was spared, but the Messiah Jesus literally died for our sins. This foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus in Genesis 22 stirs my heart and reminds me of the well-known verse in the Gospel of John,

For God so loved the world that He gave (in sacrifice) His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Scripture Meditation:

I hope you will meditate on the above verse and think deeply as to how His sacrifice, love and the truth found in this well-known passage of Scripture has changed your life, and if shared and believed by others, would transform theirs as well. You might focus on the word “gave” for a moment. In what way did God give us Jesus? A few thoughts come to my mind.

1. He was given through incarnation.

This is the fulfillment of the words of the prophet Isaiah in chapter 7:14, and 9:6-7 and in the prophecies of Isaiah’s contemporary Micah, in chapter 5:8. The God of the universe took on human flesh and all of the weakness this implies, without taking on our sinful nature. He then endured the hardships of life when He could have remained in heaven. He was hungry, thirsty; He understood hard work and even the pain of enduring the death of a loved one. Yet, He was without sin. I find that knowing He understands me and what I go through each day draws me closer to the Savior who, the author of the Book of Hebrews declares, is a “merciful and faithful high priest” (Hebrews 2:18).

2. He was given in death

When I recite John 3:16 or mediate on the truth and power of the verse, I am gripped by the voluntary nature of His death. He did not have to die. God was not forced to send the son of His love to a gruesome and painful physical death. And the Holy One of Israel certainly did not need to turn His face from His Son in that moment when eternity was transformed, as He bore our sin and endured hell on our behalf. The giving of Jesus in sacrifice and death is the crowning moment in redemption’s story and the evidence of God’s love for His creation.

May the Lord give you insight into the depth of His love!

ARTICLE CATEGORIES
Current Conflict in Israel: Survey
Antisemitism
Evangelism
Holidays and Festivals
International Jewish Communities
Jewish Roots
Israel
Personal Stories
Prophecy

RECEIVE THE LATEST NEWS:

PARTNER WITH US:
Give a gift to support Jewish evangelism

WAYS TO PRAY FOR OUR MINISTRY:
Pray for Chosen People Ministries

PRESIDENT'S BLOG:

LATEST NEWS
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 2
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Day 1
Ten Days of Awe Devotionals - Overview
The Supremacy of God's Person
September News Briefs
MOST READ
The Meaning of Passover
About Us
What are Messianic Congregations?
Charles Feinberg Program
Messianic Congregations FAQ

 button-donate-red

Home
About Us
Ministry News
Upcoming Events
Ministry Opportunities
Church Ministries
Graduate Studies
Resources
Messianic Congregations
Donate
Contact us

Chosen People Ministries on Facebook

Chosen People Ministries on Twitter

Copyright © Chosen People Ministries - 2014

Privacy Policy

Mobile Version | Standard Version