A "Lost And Found" Story

"He is to cast lots for the two goats-- one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat....The scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness...."  (Leviticus 16:8 & 10, NIV)

Jesus went, "into the wilderness"-------------- so that you and I do not have to.

Yes, there are other "thoughts on our text, but let me offer this one: "One lot for," our acceptance in the Godhead, "and one for the scapegoat," viz., "as far as the East is from the West," and, "You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea," or, "into the wilderness."  I join the hymn writer, "Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus our Blessed Redeemer."  

I write my devotionals with not only Followers of Jesus in mind, but also those who are not; the condition of the latter disturbs me most thoroughly.  Someone once described man as, "a lonely creature in the universe, doubting his mastery even of his own environment.  Our fear of physical death has been transcended by that of even a greater fear, that of total meaninglessness."  It was for such humanity that our Lord Jesus Christ was slain.  

We are told in Leviticus 16 that blood is central to our Redemption.  Indeed, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."  The word, "blood," is mentioned at least 50 times in the first 16 chapters of Leviticus.  At one point the Holy Spirit tells us, "He is to take some of the bull's blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover."  This also describes the first goat.  It's blood was shed immediately.  

And then, there is, "the scapegoat," a most heart-wrenching part of "Redemption's Story."  Taken into the wilderness, far from the camp, far from his "family," with no hope of return, it had no hope of being saved/rescued from what was to be a most horrible death, most likely torn apart by vicious beasts.  None of this, however, can describe Calvary, of which Leviticus 16 is a foreshadow.

Some words of a popular song of the fifties are, "Though it makes Him sad to see the way we live, He'll always say, 'I forgive'"?  Those words are true, but only when, "as many as received Jesus, to them Jesus gave the authority to become the children of God."  It is a prayer of mine today, and I pray you join me, that those who are not Followers of Jesus will become so, will see in our Most Beloved, "Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," our Most Beloved, "Scapegoat," the One Who bore our sin, sicknesses, pains, griefs and sorrows so that we would not have to.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "What language will I borrow to thank You, Dearest Friend?"  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

There Are No "Extended Warranties" From Life's Trials

"When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place,..he shall bring forward the live goat.  He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites---all their sins---and put them on the goat's head.  He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task.  The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness."  (Leviticus 16:20-22, NIV)

This was fulfilled in Jesus in His Cross, death and resurrection.  "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; Sin has left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."  I shall ever praise Jesus.

Sarah got back from Florida last evening.  She was there helping her sister who has stage 4 cancer, a diabetic, has severe hip problems, and who has lost a tremendous amount of weight.  We also care for her 94 year old mother, whose dementia, and accompanying dependency is progressing every day.  Please pray for us both, but especially Sarah as she bears a great emotional weight.

Humanity looks for, and so many, demand guarantees in life, guarantees for living.  A car salesman once told me that the greatest profits car dealers make are on the "extended warranties."  From the First Century Followers of Jesus to the Twenty-First Century Followers of Jesus, His Disciples have learned that there are no guarantees, no "extended warranties" which exempt people from life's progression.  The only "extended warranty" life offers you and me is the life all can have in Jesus Christ, "In Jesus was life; and the life was the light of men....Everyone who believes may have eternal life in Jesus." 

Our text is from a most powerful portion of Scripture, the Gospel "according to" Leviticus.  Every quarter when I read through Leviticus 16 it is one of the most thankful, blessed moments.  It reveals the price Jesus paid so that you and I may have the greatest "Extended Warranty" of all eternity.  There were two goats to be offered.  One goat died quickly, immediately.  The other died a slow death, taken into the wilderness and abandoned to be torn apart by some ferocious beast.  The Hebrew writer gives us a most precious exhortation today, "The high priest carries the blood of the animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp.  And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own Blood.  Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore."

Father, in Jesus' Name, again, Thank You so much.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Jesus, "Before" and "After"

"Some wandered in desert wastelands....Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness.... Some became fools through their rebellious ways....Some went out...and in their peril their courage melted away....They were at their wits end....Then they cried out to the Lord in their troubles, and He brought them out of their distress."  (From Psalm 107, NIV)

Sound familiar?

Psalm 107 is a sort of "trip down memory lane."  There is no greater reminder to you and me of the faithfulness of the Blessed Trinity.  What a blessing today to read and listen to these "wonderful words of life"----------- "sing them over again to me."

Psalm 107 is a perfect description of you and me before Jesus, and a perfect description of you and me "after" Jesus.  Before, we were wanderers, we, "sat in darkness, in utter darkness," we, "became fools through [our] rebellious ways," we, "were at [our] wits end," though some didn't know what to call it.  And then something, or I should say, Some One Very Wonderful "happened," Jesus, "He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed."

Nothing now, my friend, but, "Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.  Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, so thankful am I today that You continually do what the psalmist declares, "He sends forth His Word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction."  Amen.
****************************
David's Tent Mission:  September 18-22

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

'Your Years Go On Through All Generations"

"So I said: 'Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days; Your years go on through all generations.  In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.  They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment.  Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.  But You remain the same, and your years will never end.'"  (Psalm 102, NIV)

Psalm 102 is a great example of a suffering/victorious soul.  He openly and honestly states his present condition, and at the same time declares some of the greatest passages of praise in the Scripture. 

Notice the psalmist's "reasoning" that the Lord Jesus (see Hebrews 1) will answer his prayer, "In the beginning You."  And, "You remain the same, and your years will never end."  The conclusion which you and I can make?  He will, "remain the same, and [His] years will never end"; therefore, so will you and I.  How do I know?  You and I are in Jesus and Jesus in us. 

I encourage you and me to look beyond the "now" of our lives.  Get our thinking and living in the eternal, viz, "The Eternal One."  Our text along with Biblical Theology teaches us that when we doubt what will happen to us in suffering, turmoil and uncertainty, if we think it's all over, we can say with Paul, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us," and still loves us.  "Through Him," our Lord Jesus, Who will, "remain the same, and [Whose] years will never end," is the guarantee that neither will yours nor mine.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I join the psalmist in worship.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"The Fire Must...Not Go Out"

"The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out....The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out."  (From Leviticus 6:12 & 13, NIV)

Every quarter when I read our text, the Holy Spirit will not let me forget.

I grew up in the home of a pray-er, soul winner, Bible preacher/teacher/expositor, faithful in his generation; may our Lord Jesus Christ grant me such an anointing.  I remember him talking of the "Moravian Revival" from the time I was a very young boy, the revival which sparked the 24/7/365 prayer which went on, by some accounts, for 120 years.  Not long before my Dad passed, I was in Herrnhut, and in the actual Church Building in Berthelsdorf, just about a mile out of Herrnhut (Since 2013, Berthelsdorf has been incorporated in Herrnhut).  It was in that Lutheran Church Building in Berthelsdorf where on August 13, 1727, during a communion service, the "great revival" began.  I have a recording of me standing in the pulpit of that building and reading some Scripture.  What an absolute privilege. 

The "theme" verse of the Unitas Fratrum, which means "United Brethren," literally, "Unity of the Brethren," Community in Herrnhut was our text.  If someone is going to act literally on an ancient text, I know of none better.  There are some such "movements" around the Globe.  I wonder, however, what would happen in the United States and other nations, if the Global Church would walk out, "The fire on the altar must...not go out." 

There is a sad historic truth; all revivals fissile out.  Remember the "Charismatic Renewal?"  Humanity in general, and Christendom in particular, has mastered the art of "fissile."  The literal "wake up" call I received a few weeks still "haunts" me.  It was jolt, a sort of, "What are you doing?  Now get on with what I commanded."  It is a word, I have no doubt, to the Church, to you as well as to me. 

I encourage you today, in the midst of joys and sorrows, to rejoice in Jesus and continue the walk of, "Abide in Me."  Paul knew both joys and sorrows, but his response if for you and me also.  "....I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  i know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  I have a friend who is 85, still traveling and serving Jesus.  His is a life of 24/7/365.  So may be yours and mine.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Send the old time power."  Amen.

**************************
Please remember the David's Tent Mission, September 18-22

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2