Tag: repentance

The people of Israel had gathered for the anointing of King Saul. Afterward, Samuel said his farewell to the nation that he had guided and judged. As he spoke, lightning crashed. Thunder rolled. People ran for cover and cowered in fear.

They had sinned, and God was demonstrating His displeasure, in hopes that the nation would repent.

Often, when we blatantly disobey God’s will or continuously live in sin, God allows storms in our lives. Frightening storms. Fierce lightning. Terrifying thunder.

If you’re living outside of the will of God, and storms are raging around you, then stop. Listen. God is speaking to you. Somewhere in your life is a Samuel, calling you to repentance.

The storm won’t last long, though. God may discipline us, but He will never forsake us. Return to Him. Seek God’s forgiveness. Follow in the steps of His Son.

Fear Not. Serve Him with all your heart.

The Jewish holy day, Yom Kippur, has just passed. Christians might be more familiar with it if we call it the Day of Atonement, the annual day of repentance. Every year, every Jew is traditionally required to seek forgiveness for their sins. In Bible times, this required a sacrifice.

As Christians, we know the lessons of Yom Kippur, that sin separates us from God. That the high priest entered the Holy of Holies only on the Day of Atonement. That Christ has offered and given His life as sacrifice for our sins. That the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple was torn down at the death of Christ. Yet there is another lesson that perhaps some of us overlook.

Yom Kippur is an annual event. That even the most well-intentioned Jew will sin again in the next 365 days and will need to repent again. Now, here is a key lesson for us, as Christians: Christ died once, to cover all our sins, past and future. His sacrifice is perfect and eternal. He dumped our sins in the sea of forgiveness, and separated us from them as far as the East is from the West. He washed us of our carnal nature, and, by filling us with His Spirit, empowers us to overcome sin, so that we may live like Him. Not us, but Christ in us.

Praise be to God, we are free… Free at last.

Worthy.. worthy… Worthy the lamb that was slain..

Fear Not 365 – Serve the Lord With All Your Heart

Annual Day of Atonement