GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 21 ~ ~ Isaiah 1:18 ~ ~ “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool”

THE LORD SHOWS TENDER COMPASSIONS THAT NEVER FAIL.—Lam 3:23

We’re in the New Testament Gospels in Michael Youssef’s book, “How to Read the Bible (Like your life depends upon it………because it does)

This chapter:

THE GOSPELS: FOUR STORYTELLERS, ONE STORY

Jerome of Stridon was a Christian theologian in a time of persecution.  Born in the roman province of Dalmatia, he is best known for translating the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek new Testament into Latin (His translation is known as the Vulgate edition, meaning “in the common tongue”).  A wealthy Roman nobleman, as well as a devout Christian, Jerome moved to Palestine so he could visit the places he read and wrote about in his bible translations.

On Christmas Eve, just after he had finished his translation of the bible, the Lord Jesus appeared to Jerome in a dream and said, “What will you give Me for My birthday?”

Jerome eagerly replied, “Lord, I will give You my translation of Your word.”

Jesus said, “No, Jerome, that’s not what I want.”

Jerome was disappointed.  He had labored over his translation for four decades – yet here was Jesus telling him he wanted something else.  Jerome asked, “What else can I give You?  Should I give You all my possessions?”

Jesus said, “No, I don’t want any of those things.”

“Should I give you all my money?”

“No, I don’t want your money.”

“Tell me, Lord!  What would give You joy on your birthday?  What can I give You?”

Jesus said, “Give Me all your sins.”

The essential message of the gospels is that Jesus came to take all of our sins, from root to fruit.  The root of sin is our fallen nature, which we inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve.  The fruit of sin is all the ways we say to God, “I will not surrender my will to You!”

This is expressed in our selfishness as well as in our addictions, anger, bitterness, lust, jealousy, envy, pride, judgmentalism, self pity, lovelessness, dishonesty, and more.  Jesus’s message to us is the same as His message to Jerome: 

“GIVE ME ALL YOUR SINS.”

**********  *****

John 3:3

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Acts 16:31

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Mark 1:15

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Psalm 103:12

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions (sins) from us.

Isaiah 43:25

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

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