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.
Father, we cry out to You for true justice. We need You so much in every way. Forgive us of our sin and help us do what You made us for. In Jesus’s great and praiseworthy name, amen
Amen,Rob.Thank you.
Rob, Amen to your prayer.
” Philippians 1:6 New International Version
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
“We must live in a (constant) state of repentance for our sin,As well as being….”as David stated in his comments and the scripture just above tells us that when we are saved the Holy Spirit is constantly cleansing us from within,even though we may be mostly unaware of it.That is Supreme Love.Praise God.
Search Me
Search me,oh Lord,I’m Yours,
Remove the cobwebs that hide,
Find out what my heart stores,
Then put the wrong far to one side.
Search again,oh Lord,for light,
Let not darkness cloud my mind,
That I may freely do what’s right,
For I want a heart clean and kind.
Search my soul,Oh Lord,for me;
Don’t let me be vain and phony,
For such get lost and can’t see,
Then become the devil’s crony.
Search my heart,oh Lord again,
Leave no trace of greed within,
Then I can show,without pain,
The love betrayed by my sin.
G W Marshall / 08-Nov-013
Amen to your poem William.
That sad story above is reminiscent of “It Is Well” May God bless
https://www.bethelripon.com/life-stories/horatio-gates-spafford
Beautiful poem William and the song is so encouraging. Folks; please continue to pray for “J” as he is not “out of the woods” yet, so to speak. At 23, he has attempted to take his life a second time. He graduated from university recently but does not want to work in the area of his studies. He lives some distance away from relatives who live overseas. Please pray that God will take over and touch him mightily, in Jesus Name – binding satan and his plans of destruction. Amen and amen. Thank you.
Doreen joining you in prayer for “J”…may the love of God surround and protect him, and may “J” see himself as his Heavenly Father sees him.
Doreen, I am praying for J that God would
be merciful to him and protect and save him
from sin, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Thank you Lord for answering our prayers.
Thank you William for your poem, it is my prayer as well.
Yes what a sad story, I am so grateful that God our Heavenly Father understands all, and that He loves us and knows best.
I am also joining in prayer for J. May Holy Spirit make known to him how much he is loved. May his heart be encouraged and filled with hope.
I am asking for prayer for a young man who was laid off and needs to find a job. Mark ( not his real name) is described by his former boss as an excellent worker and very nice person. He’s been without a job for some time and it’s affecting his mental health. Please pray that he will entrust himself to God and that He will provide the right job at the right time.
Thank you
Luisa, I am praying for Mark that he finds the
right job by the grace of God and he remains
healthy, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Standing in prayer with Doreen for “J” and with Luisa for Mark. Praying Deuteronomy 33:27 May these young men come to know that God is their refuge, and underneath are his everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out and destroy the enemy from them.
Amen to all prayers today.
Joining everyone prayer for Luisa’s prayer request, praying for Mark that he will learn and grow in trust that his heavenly Father has the right job for him.
Thank you folks for prayers for J and Mark. It is a difficult time for many and medical help can be hard to find as well. We place these two men in God’s arms asking Him to direct the paths he has planned for them. May they come to know their Creator in a new way and understand His direction. Amen.