Heaven And Hell
October, 31 - Daily Devotions
October Scripture Portion: Matthew chapter 1 - Luke chapter 22 including the Gospel according to Mark.
Chapter 21 contains what is probably the greatest lesson on giving in the entire Bible. The poor widow had only two mites in her possession; yet she loved God so much that she gave it all to Him. In Mark 12:41-44 Jesus said she gave more than all the others; for she gave, not out of abundance, but out of want.
In chapter 22:39-54 Christ goes to His prayer closet, the Mount of Olives. This was His last visit there. He went to separate Himself from the world and to be alone with the Father. At this memorable place, Jesus would talk to His Father about issues that would affect heaven, earth, hell, and stretch out to the uttermost ages of eternity. He would settle the sin problem in His own mind and heart in the Garden. I thank God that Jesus was faithful to the terrible suffering on the cross. There He bore our sins and paid the entire sin debt. I am sure Gethsemane must have been a place of solemn loneliness that night. As the Saviour agonized in prayer, He sweat as it were drops of blood, revealing the awful suffering of His tender and sensitive heart. That heart was to be crushed and bruised by the weight of our sins. If we can but catch a glimpse of the agony He suffered there, and realize all our sins were imputed to Him on Calvary's cross, then we can know for sure there is no escape if we neglect so great salvation.
Verses 47 and 48 contain the cruel betrayal of Jesus by Judas. Men, women, boys, and girls are giving Jesus a kiss of betrayal even today, when they give the lips of profession, but deny Him a heart of love.
Verses 50 and 51 show Jesus' mercy in the time of suffering, when He touched the ear of the soldier to undo the damage of Peter's sword. What forgiveness, what self- forgetting love He showed! The power that healed the ear could have hurled the entire band of mockers into perdition! But it was love, infinite love, that constrained Him.
Dear reader, our hearts should be tender and moved as we read this wonderful chapter. It and many others show His great love for us. Truly, how can we escape if we neglect so great salvation? MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY: Man now can be: Redeemed.
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
MEMORY VERSES FOR TODAY:
- Man now can be: Reconciled.
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY: Man now can be: Righteous.
Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
- Man now can be: Forgiven.
Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.
- Man now can be: Justified.
Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
