SPEAK UP
Today’s Reading: Judges 19
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Via Dolorosa (Latin for “Way of Grief” or “Way of Suffering”) is a street in two parts within the Old City of Jerusalem. This is believed to be the path that Jesus walked, carrying His cross, on the way to His crucifixion. The winding route from the Antonia Fortress west to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a distance of about 600 metres (2,000 feet). Jesus suffered for our sins as well as the sins of “the perverted men” in today’s reading.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Judges 19:22
As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city, perverted men, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!”
Perversion, rape, and murder — The moral disease of sin is death! It’s difficult to understand how God, in Christ, took sin into Himself and became the embodiment of all that is evil, all that is destroying the human family. But He did! The words in 2 Corinthians 5:21 assure us that God “made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us.” For encouragement we may want to read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
Our key verse gives us a picture of people enjoying relatively “small sins” inside the house when they were invaded by more dramatic sins from the outside. Actually, there are no pastel shades of sin. Sin is sin. It’s all as dark as the pit of hell. We must live in a state of repentance for our sin, trusting that, as 2 Corinthians tells us, we are a “new creation.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I want to keep on thanking You throughout all eternity for taking my sin into Yourself and bearing the separation from all that is pure, all that is loving, and all that is holy. Grant me grace to live my life here and now in such a way that I do not add to Your sufferings by more and more sin. Amen! Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I may have many questions for the Lord in eternity, but perhaps not, as I may be so taken up in worship that I forget my questions. One question that comes to mind concerns a family I knew before I knew my wife, Norma-Jean (we’ve been married almost 59 years). I won’t use their real names. This story comes to my mind frequently. It made such an impact on my young life.
I was still a teenager when I rented a hall and began preaching the Gospel. I was also a public school teacher at the time, and I met many people who needed Jesus very much. One Sunday, as I gave an invitation to receive Christ as Saviour and Lord, I noticed that Barbara (not her real name) was gripping the back of the chair in front of her so tightly that her knuckles were white. She refused to give her life to Christ. The following Saturday night after a party where there was heavy drinking, she and her husband were driving home drunk and Barbara was killed in an accident. I was asked by the police if I would be the one to tell her husband that she had passed away (he was in the hospital). As a result of this experience, he gave his life to Jesus and was a new man from then on. The following summer, while Barbara’s two children were visiting their grandparents, there was a house fire and both children died. The children had given their lives to Jesus at a summer Vacation Bible School. I may have been 20 years old when I stood beside Barbara’s grave and led in a prayer as the children were buried, their caskets resting on top of their mother’s casket. I weep as I type this. I am still perplexed! I have so many questions. I know one thing that I do not question…God’s overall purposes are good. In the light of eternity, all is well.
Yours for understanding fully God’s purposes some day,
David
Here is Station #7 of the Via Dolorosa. Tradition says that Jesus fell the second time here. However, the Bible does not confirm this.
Inside Station #7 of the Via Dolorosa.
For those who have children and would do ‘anything’ for them,then it is not difficult to imagine the far superior love Jesus feels for us,His children.No matter what your children do,you still love them with all your heart.That is why it pains the Father and the Son so much when we sin and why Jesus took on all our sins.He is immortal so those sins included all future sins.The difference is,His love is much greater than ours;unimaginably so.Dwell on that and give thanks and praise.May God bless
Our Father
Oh God our Father you love us so,
We are blind and can not know
Just how great and kind you are,
You do not love us from afar.
We turn our backs and still you care;
We close our eyes but you are there,
But it’s You we rely on
To lead us on back to Zion.
We hurt you daily by endless sin
But still your light guides us in.
You could not know how weak we are
So you sent us Jesus to bear our scars.
We are a mixture of sin and praise,
But still you lift our spirits to raise
The love that you see in us still,
A desire to follow your holy will.
G W (Bill) Marshall /Oct 10,2011
Salvation
Sweet Jesus I owe everything to you and to you alone,
You have shown me my home,you are my anchorstone,
You have saved me always when stormy winds have blown,
You have always been my rock,the truest friend I’ve known,
So why do you think me worthy as a seed you have sown
What can I ever do to earn all the love you’ve shown .
Ch:
Let me know sweet Jesus, let me know beyond my days
Let me know my savour,when I bow down to you in praise,
When my time here is drawing short and coming to a close,
As they carry me away after leading the life I chose,
I pray that I will leave not sorrow for those that I love,
But instead to know the joy that waits for us above.
I am not a wealthy man but I am very rich by far,
When I walk my journey you’re my guiding star
And you know that I am honest in all the things I do,
I have never born false witness,I only say what’s true,
You have strengthened my soul before I even knew
Of life’s losses with your love to see me through.
You have always had your hand placed within my soul,
You have shown me your light that has made me whole,
I have never known this love that comes from your grace,
Nor have I known compassion that shines from your face,
For I am still a sinner and you are the Son of God
I can only meet you at the end of the road I trod.
G W(Bill) Marshall/June 6/2011 (No copyright intended)
“This started as a melody in my head,over and over about
315 AM,then followed the first lines of the chorus and I had
to get up and finish the words,as if taking dictation.(This was
soon after I surrendered on my knees in my own living room,
privately,but 20 days before I was baptized at our bible camp.)”
Amen,
Thank You, Father, that no matter what, You are always good, True, faithful. Thank You that You are unchanging – we can rely on You. You are an ever-present help in times of trouble. No matter what we see in ourselves and the world around us, You are the King of kings and Your Word will never pass away.
Take our families, our nations, our friends and coworkers, our neighbours, our leaders… Take them in Your hands and draw them to Yourself; let them know You are there and help them to open their hearts to You. Send out Your workers and bless their work today, Father, in Jesus’s name, amen
A wonderful prayer, Rob. Many, many, great truths in your poem, William. Thank you. Thanks, Beverley, for your post yesterday. I managed to open the article & save it. Blessings all.
Amen Rob
Amen Rob. Agreeing with you in prayer,
in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Wonderful prayer Rob. A big amen! Thank you Lord.
Thank you for your meaningful poems William and Rob.