HE WAS CURSED, WE ARE BLESSED
Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 21-22
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
Two men, along with many others, present their prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. This is the retaining wall for the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus would have worshipped in the Temple courtyard just above and to the east. This is the closest Jews today can come to the actual Temple site. This is the reason the Wailing Wall is another name for this Herodian structure. Orthodox Jews consider themselves to be in mourning ever since the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 22:4
You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fall down along the road, and hide yourself from them; you shall surely help him lift them up again.
When accused by religious Jews of breaking the laws of the Sabbath by healing a man, Jesus referenced our key verse and exposed their double standard by reminding them that they would indeed pull their animal out of the ditch on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1-6). If we want to discover what Jesus thought of the efforts to keep all the Mosaic laws, read the entire 23rd chapter of Matthew (click here). We might also consider Deuteronomy 21:22b & 23b where our reading points us forward to the One who hung on a tree. It may be valuable for us to read Galatians 3:10-14. Jesus was executed in the worst possible way. Not only did He endure the tortures of the Cross, He also carried the stigma of being “accursed.” The people observing knew well that anyone hanged on a tree is accursed of God. Jesus took on Himself the curse imposed on the human race because of the sin of our first parents. By faith, and because of Jesus, we are not cursed; we are truly blessed.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, as I’ve just read from Matthew 23 and Galatians 3, I realize more than ever how blessed I am. Please help me to never take Your blessings for granted, presuming on Your grace by doing those things which I know have resulted from the “curse.” You forgive my sins and You also give me the grace to stop sinning. Thank You, Jesus! Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
An old friend and mentor, the late Rev. J. H. Blair, walked the final steps with the last man hanged for murder in the Barton Street Jail in Hamilton, Ontario. In 1953, Harry Lee was hanged for the crime of first-degree murder. Pastor Blair told me that this man repented before God for all of his sins while maintaining that he was innocent of murder right to the end. I believe I will see Harry Lee in Heaven. The Scripture says that “Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” I am on a one-way street to eternity. There are no U-turns. About 1,000 people call the Crossroads/100 Huntley Street prayer lines every day. Many calls are about getting right with God. Kind, loving, non-judgmental people are waiting for those calls. The toll-free number is 1-866-273-4444.
Yours for knowing the salvation for which Jesus hung on a tree,
David
Thanks, David, for the prayer and prayer line# to call. I will keep my focus not on the disturbing nature of reading Deuteronomy 21-22, today, but on the sacrifice of our Saviour Jesus Christ, hung on that tree for our sins. His all-enduring love for us, has set us free, and we are eternally grateful. Wishing all saints a blessed day in the Lord.
His neck was put in irons. Psalm 105:18 NIV
Here and Now (feat. Will Reagan) – Official Lyric Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoD353mnddk
Good to see you on today’s programme.
Shalom,
Graham
had a bad encounter with someone from church on the 23rd; I didn’t know what do since I was “floored” by the comments. I prayed to God to help me forgive this person because I was pretty certain that I had not done anything wrong but the other person was taking the situation the wrong way! I felt bullied, threatened, intimated! no less than by another member of the church!!!!!!!
on the 24th this person shoved some papers into my face and said, “this is yours”
when I checked everything was included as I had requested! I sat for a few moments and KNEW without a doubt that the devil was mucking the issue up big time! I rebuked the devil in the name of Jesus Christ, completed what I needed to do, submitted the cheques to where they needed to go and that was that! Yes, the devil is not happy with me, but, my Saviour Jesus Christ, my Friend Jesus Christ, my Redeemed Lord overcame the power of the devil and the devil has no place on this earth! PRAISE THE LORD!
I am asking for prayers to clear my debts and help my family/friends/missions/purchase newer 2nd vehicle, invest some monies and just spend my time serving the Lord……TY Lord Jesus, TY
Praying for you, Sah; it isn’t nice when we have hard encounters with others. In these difficult times, the Lord calls us to give thanks for what we have. The devil pulls us away when we want more and keeps us from realizing our blessings during the hard times. There is always a rainbow of peace when we give thanks. Amen and may God give you dreams with angels whispering in your ear to encourage you.
Amen! Beverlee
“But you will not mind the roughness nor the steepness of the way,
Nor the chill, unrested morning, nor the heat of the noonday;
And you will not take a turning to the left or the right,
But go straight ahead, nor tremble at the coming of the night,
For the road leads home.”
From Streams in the Desert, Cowman, December 27
Thank you so much for your helpful comments Beverlee Kay!
I just had another piece of news! My friend Eva has been given her dad’s place to live for as long as she wants as her dad will be in a home, all she has to do is pay utilities, taxes, not much at all…..Eva does not tithe nor go to church much, and yet she has received all these gifts and I am happy for her and I don’t want to feel jealous or covet anything because I have been praying for a long time for a financial breakthrough to help me clear debts, etc.
pray for me that I not have any ill will against her, she is the one who spoke the words over me 21 years ago “We have the Holy Spirit that enables us to do more than we ever dreamt” and with those words I threw my smokes away, never smoked or drank since and I praise the Lord for her speaking those words over me!!!!!!
something is sure happening in my life! It seems I am being tested every which way I turn! I rebuke the devil and all his ways! My Lord Jesus Christ died and rose from the grave and all the sins of mankind were forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, by His blood being shed for all mankind, we are loved with unconditional love!
PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!
It says in revelations that the devil “wears out the saints”. Praying for you sah…greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!