HE WAS CURSED, WE ARE BLESSED
Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 21-22
(click scripture link to read online)
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:
On Christmas day I was short of 100 words in this section of my blog. A young mother and new Christian told me off about this. She counts on the full treatment for her daily devotions. My excuse for having only about 25 words here was that I had gone way over 100 words in my Scripture commentary. Readers, my brothers and sisters in Christ, thanks for your patience with me.
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. In 1953, Harry lee was hanged for the crime of first-degree murder. Brother Blair told me that this man repented before God for all his sins, while maintaining that he was innocent of murder right to the end. This is one of the reasons capital punishment was ended. 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.” The same motivation to get right with God, execution, has not been there over the last 60 years. I am on a one-way street to eternity. There are no U-turns. About 1000 people call the Crossroads/100 Street prayer lines every day. Many calls are about getting right with God. Kind, loving, non-judgmental people are waiting for those calls. The number is 1-866-273-4444.
Yours for knowing the salvation for which Jesus hung on a tree,
David
It really is all about God’s wonderful grace through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. If God has been tugging on on your heart this Christmas season, what better time to come to Him than today? As the Bible states, ‘now is the acceptable time’ don’t wait until tomorrow. As David mentioned there are great people willing to take the time to pray and to offer some great resources to get to know Jesus; and it’s all just a phone call away.
I love Moses so much that the book of Deuteronomy is beautiful to me. I can feel Moses’ heart in the words. I will be sorry when we finish this last book of the priceless Torah. Next to Jesus it is Moses I most want to hug in heaven!
Thank you David for also making the Old Testament sparkle!
Moses was extremely patient & loyal to his people.
The scripture verses, relating to the birth of Jesus, and the exhortations you provided us with on Christmas morning, I thought were very meaningful. Deuteronomy has been an adventure in extremes and legalisms. I appreciate the cross referrences from the New Testament and how our relationship with Christ provides us all with faith, hope and peace, never to be taken for granted.
My prayer is the same as you David
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and New Year to.
I love your pictures Renold that you captured.
Lianne Hogg
Tomorrow, I am suppose to see the heart specialist about an operation. Please, fellow bloggers would you pray that I will make the right decision. It looks like I might not get to see him as we are having a big snowstorm. Could that be the leading of the Lord, too? Thank you. Appreciate your blogging,David and your photos, Reynold. They help to bring the study alive. God bless everyone today.
My prayers are with you.
Also, with you Ger.
Praying for you, Ger. Trust that God will be with you and be not afraid.
we will pray for you Ger.
Over the Christmas season I watched with my husband the movie on the book of Matthew.
The actor was brillant in his portrayal of Christ Jesus.
When I tried to watch the Passion of the Christ I could not
The violence that Christ endured on our behalf was mind numbing.
The Gospel according to Matthew I could understand better.
There is the scene where he is recounting Matthew 23 and it was so profound. I wept. People not understanding the grace and mercy of God even though when he is condeming them he is calling out for them to repent.
They did not, at least in the movie it showed them not repenting.
One scene also when Pontius Pilate washed his hands and said that this man’s blood (meaning Jesus) would not be on my hands.
One person yelled out let His blood be on our hands and on our children’s hands.
That is sobering, and scary! What a stmt. to make! People must speak w/o thinking at times.
Again the movie was moving and presented the gospel to my husband.
The actor portrayed the love of Christ in a believable manner.
I like the Love chpt. of the bible where it states that Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud and it keeps no records of wrongs, Love always hopes, always perserves and always believes.
Jesus is love and He lives in me
That is so profound and so life changing and I accept it.
My entire life I have lived in shame. Some days are much better than others. This is not a pity party I am speaking about but a revelation of acknowledging that God loves me.
When I go and look in the b/r mirror I say after some time of weeping and not being able to look.
I point my finger and state. God loves you. Eventually I can look at myself and state that.
Then the enemy of my soul flees for I am a daughter of the King and I am loved and I rejoice in that and I give God all the glory for His goodness and grace and His unfailing love towards me and my family.
I declare that God has a plan and a purpose for me and that God is soverign and His judgements are fair and He will never leave me nor forsake me.
Ever! and I love that and I rest in that today and every other day.
In Christ
Your eternal sister
Mellany
Blessings and Happy New Year and may 2013 be the best ever.
I visited a nursing home on Christmad Day where my aunt is (she is 100 years old). I had the pleasure of reading her part of John (word became flesh) and Luke (Birth of Jesus) and pray with her. While there I visited everyone and passed out candies, say Merry Christmas and Jesus is the reason for the season. I got to pray with a few of the seniors and chat about making turkey dinners and scalloped potatoes. I thought I was giving to them but they gave me more. I was blessed with making spiritual connections when our eyes met, I got hugs and kisses too. My Mom left us this year to be with the Lord. I learned so much while caring for her at home (24/7). I missed her so much this Christmas but visiting the home on Christmas day was wonderful. Seniors are wise and understanding. I thank you so much David for the extraordinary effort you are making to keep God’s word available to the world. I read every word you write and I get more understanding of what God wants to tell me. Keep up the good work of faithful servant for our Wonderful Lord and Saviour!!
Awesome Story! Thankyou!
Thanks for such a great message, today, David. Galatians 3:14 especially moved me: “Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.”
Praying that everyone’s faith be strengthened. Be blessed and know how special you are because Jesus loves you!
Praying for you Ger
Thanks be unto God for his wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith;
the only faith that saves is faith in Him.
Amen!!
Nancy Webb-Waisberg, Edmonton, Alberta