Category: Former Atheist

Of Curses and Blessings – Deuteronomy 27-28 – 2025 Day 212

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Proverbs 31, Deuteronomy 27-28

In Deuteronomy 27:14, the Levites (the priests) were told to declare a series of curses to all the men of Israel in a loud voice. After voicing these curses for disobeying God’s commands, then they were to declare the blessings for obedience, followed once again by more pronouncements of God’s judgment on their disobedience.

No one likes to tell others about the hard things going on in life. It’s so much more fun to just talk about the happy stuff – the joys of marriage, the highlights of homeschooling, the achievements of our children. Likewise, our churches are full of messages about HEAVEN and BLESSINGS and GOOD NEWS!

But, the thing is that only telling half the truth is really deceptive, and the GOOD NEWS is really so much sweeter when you know the BAD NEWS.

  • The bad news is that you are a sinner through and through.
  • The bad news is that on your own you can’t do anything good.
  • The bad news is that you deserve God’s wrath.
  • The bad news is that (apart from the saving grace of God) you are destined for eternity in hell.

The bad news
is just as true
as the good news.

  • The good news is that Jesus became a curse for me.
  • The good news is that Jesus delivered me from my path straight to hell.
  • The good news is that Jesus paid the price for my sin by His death on the cross.
  • The good news is that Jesus is my Savior and my Friend.

As the Lord’s chosen heralds, we have to tell the good news and the bad, the curses and the blessings. They’re both true and they both need to be proclaimed.

“This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:11-12 ESV

Heavenly Father, every Word of God proves true. You are indeed a shield to those who take refuge in You. (Proverbs 30:5) We deserve Your wrath for we are sinners, and yet You have saved us and covered us with Your love in the blood of Jesus. You are faithful and good and true. Make us likewise. Help us to be faithful and good and true. Help us to believe the truth and proclaim the truth – the whole truth, the bad news along with the good – that many might be saved. For Your glory and kingdom and in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord, we pray. Amen.

Not in Me – Sovereign Grace Music

Breaking Free from Spiritual Ignorance – Deuteronomy 18-19 – 2025 Day 207

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Proverbs 26, Deuteronomy 18-19

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’

And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.'”

Deuteronomy 18:15-19 ESV

These words spoken by Moses as recorded in Deuteronomy 18 have been fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. As Peter said to the people in Jerusalem after they were eyewitnesses to him healing a crippled man,

“Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead.

To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

Acts 3:12-23 ESV

Dear friends, for so long I, too, was ignorant. I didn’t know the Word, and I didn’t know that Jesus was God’s only Begotten Son, fully God and fully man, whom God the Father had sent to pay the price for man’s sins by His death on the cross. I didn’t know that I could be saved by trusting in Him, turning away from my sin and turning to Him. I didn’t know.

But now I do. I’m no longer ignorant.

And just like God has different punishments for an accidental killing versus an intentional, willful murder, God’s justice will be more severe toward those who have willfully rejected His offer of salvation.

If you have read even this one blog post, you can no longer claim ignorance when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Like Paul said to the religious men in the Areopagus in Athens, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31 ESV)

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected
by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
And there is salvation in no one else,
for there is no other name
under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:11-12 ESV

Reject Him no longer. I pray that today will be the day of salvation for you and your household. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Want more? Click here for an article on the topic of more severe punishment in hell for those who reject Christ.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for opening my eyes, for bringing me out of the darkness and into the light. Thank You for setting my feet on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, hiding me in the Rock that was cleft for me, passing over my sins because the blood of Jesus Christ has been applied to the door of my heart. This is all from You and for You. All praise and honor and thanks to You. I pray for those reading this today who are still wandering lost in the dark, who need their eyes to be opened. Please, Father, please. Show them Christ. In the Name of Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer and Lord. Amen.

Rock of Ages – Augustus Toplady – sung by Chris Rice
Show us Christ – Sovereign Grace Music

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Is God a Sadistic, Genocidal Murderer? – Numbers 33-34 – 2025 Day 186

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Proverbs 5, Numbers 33-34

“And the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it. You shall inherit the land by lot according to your clans. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance. Wherever the lot falls for anyone, that shall be his. According to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.”

Numbers 33:50-56 ESV

Two years ago when I originally published a YouTube video based on the Aaronic Prayer of Blessing from Numbers 6:24-26, within 24 hours I received a comment from an atheist accusing God of committing genocide and demanding young virgins as war booty to serve in his temple.

I continued to think about his comments as I read chapter by chapter through Numbers. I didn’t want to read the scriptures through the lenses of my own bias or preconceived notions. I want to have eyes and ears that search for the truth. So, what is it?

  • Is the God of the Bible a genocidal murderer, cruelly wiping out whole nations?
  • Is He a sadist, getting pleasure out of inflicting pain?
  • Or is He the holy, loving, good Father that I believe Him to be?

Friends, it’s so important to read the Bible – or any book for that matter – in context. Just like you could carefully cut one sentence from my blog and twist it to say something totally different than what I truly meant, likewise a person can take a sentence from the Bible to mean something totally different from what God is actually communicating.

Here in Numbers 33, we read about God’s command for the Israelites to completely drive out and wipe out the inhabitants of the land. God knows the future of the men, women, and children currently living in Canaan as well as the future of the Israelites that He is bringing in to possess the land. God knows that the Canaanites will not repent. God knows they will be thorns and barbs to the Jewish people, leading them into idolatry and immorality.

God always wants for His glory, but He also wants for His people’s good. The Lord truly is “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7)

The Lord’s blessings extend to the thousands. His forgiveness is boundless. But our sin does have consequences – upon our own lives and even down to our children, grandchildren, and great grand children. We see this again and again in the story of these faithless, complaining Israelites – as well as in our own modern lives.

So, you can read Numbers and decide that God is a cruel tyrant … or you can read Numbers and walk away more sure than ever that God is a just, faithful, forgiving, patient Father. What did you decide?

Heavenly Father, I pray for those who have been hurt by the church, who have gotten glimpses of your truth but have chosen to turn away from Your grace. Please, Father, bring them back to You and have mercy on them. Just like the Israelites who tested You time and again with their complaints, for the sake of Your Glorious Name, remember Your children. In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Your Grace is Enough – Martin Chalk Worship Session

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Pure and Holy Passion: Some Thoughts on Righteous Jealousy from Numbers 25 – 2025 Day 182

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Proverbs 1; Numbers 25-26

While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel….

And the LORD said to Moses, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy. Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”

Numbers 25:1-3, 10-13 ESV

Usually jealousy is closely tied to covetousness, which is a sin. We’re jealous of someone’s marriage, children, house, job, appearance, whatever… We want what they have. In some way or other, some other person has it better than us, and we’re not happy about it.

But what about righteous jealousy? What about being jealous for your husband’s honor, or affection? Is it right to turn a deaf ear to someone slandering your husband’s name? Would a godly wife look the other way while some woman flirts with her husband … Or what if she sees her husband holding hands with his secretary?

Likewise, it is only right for us to be jealous for our Heavenly Father’s honor and affection.

How should we feel if we see a brother or sister in Christ smearing the Lord’s reputation through the dirt, chasing after idols and smut? What about when we hear someone spreading lies about our Lord Jesus?

I’m afraid we’re nothing more than
selfish cowards when we close
our eyes, ears, and mouths to someone slandering our great Savior’s name.

Our Gracious Father God says, “you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14) In perfect righteousness, the Lord “yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us.” (James 4:5) Certainly, we need to not sin in our jealousy for our Lord’s Name. Surely, we need to speak the truth in love, having words full of grace and seasoned with salt, not repaying wrong with wrong but overcoming evil with good, but let’s look more like God’s spotless bride and less like the world’s.

I pray that our hearts would be free from selfish jealousy, envy, and covetousness, while remaining full of zealous love for our Savior’s honor, reputation, and affection.

Heavenly Father, You have loved me with a fervent, faithful love. Help me to love You back with that same kind of pursuing passion and devotion. I pray that my heart and life would be free of covetousness which is idolatry. I want to love what You love and hate what You hate. I want to be transformed by the renewing of my mind that I may be conformed into the image of Your Perfect Son. In the Holy, Righteous Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

One Pure and Holy Passion – Amy Nobles

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Turn your Eyes – Numbers 21 through the Eyes of a Former Atheist – 2025 Day 180

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 148-149; Numbers 21

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”

Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.”

So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Numbers 21:4-9 ESV

Here they go again. Complaining. Complaining. Complaining. Again it’s all about the food.

“We have no food. Well, I mean, this food that You miraculously give us every morning is worthless, and we hate it. Why did you deliver us out of slavery? You’re a mean god. We want to go back home.”

I wish I could say that I can’t relate, but that would be a lie. All too often the thoughts in my head sound all too much like them.

“Father, what are you doing? Why is life so hard? Why did you lead me to this place only to abandon me here? I thought you loved me?”

When the snakes were biting (and killing) the people, the Israelites simply wanted the Lord to take the snakes away.

“Make this pain go away, God! Take it away! Get me out of this desert and put me in the promised land. Now!”

But that’s not what God does. Rather, He sends a Savior, a Rescuer.

He says, “Look up here! Look up at this bronze serpent up here on this pole. Look at it and have faith. Trust Me. Don’t look down at those snakes or that snake bite. Look up here at Me! I love you. Trust Me.”

Jesus referred to this very event when He was explaining to Nicodemus, a Pharisee who came to Him secretly by night, that he must be born again if he wants to enter the kingdom of God.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

John 3:14-19 ESV

What happened to the Israelites who didn’t gaze up at that snake on the pole that had been sent by God to save them? They died in their sins.

What happens to people today who don’t turn their eyes to Jesus, the God-Man sent by God to save them? They, too, will die in their sins.

Is that scary? Yes. Yes, it is. But is God good to provide a way of escape for each of us who are dying in our sin? Yes! Yes, He is!

I’ll end with these words of Jesus, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)

Heavenly Father, Please draw us to turn our eyes to You. You have already provided a Savior. You have already sent Your son Jesus to pay the price for our sin. Now, Lord, give us the desire and the strength to turn to You instead of turning to ourselves, our circumstances, and other fallen men. Forgive us for our complaining. Forgive us for our lack of faith. Thank You for Your steadfast faithfulness and mercy toward us, a sinful people. We pray for those around us who are running headlong away from Jesus. Draw them to know You. Please, Father. We cry, Holy! Mercy! Save us, Lord! In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT TODAY’S VIDEO PODCAST ON YOUTUBE.

Turn your Eyes – The Glorious Christ Live – Sovereign Grace Music
Help Us See Christ – Sovereign Grace Music

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What Can Wash Away my Sin? – Numbers 19-20 – 2025 Day 179

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 147; Numbers 19-20

Even when I was an atheist, I knew I messed up. I knew I did things I shouldn’t. I couldn’t even obey the rules that I made for myself. I didn’t call these things “sin,” and I didn’t call myself a sinner, but I knew I was far from perfect. I said mean things behind people’s backs and sometimes even to their faces. I gossiped and slandered and lied. I cussed. I yelled. I manipulated. Yet, I had no solution to this ongoing problem, other than trying harder. Trying harder and failing again.

I was a lone soldier against an army of tanks. I was a lone woman scaling the Rocky Mountains in a blizzard with nothing and no one to protect or guide me.

Then, one day, at God’s appointed time, I heard about the solution to this age-old problem, and it wasn’t found in my own self will or strength. It was found in Jesus, in His will and His strength, for Jesus had gone before me, living the perfect life and dying a sinless death.

He has already won the battle. He’s already standing on the mountaintop. He’s already seated on His heavenly throne.

The victory is His. As His born-again child, I am already forgiven, and my sins have already been washed away by His blood. The blood of Jesus does what no human work can do; it washes clean not only our outer flesh, it purifies even our conscience, giving us the freedom to serve the Living God.

For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer,
sanctify for the purification of the flesh,
how much more will the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without blemish to God,
purify our conscience from dead works
to serve the living God.

Hebrews 9:13-14 ESV

And now by the strength of His Holy Spirit working in me, I’m still fighting and climbing, but not so I can be forgiven – I’m already forgiven. I’m fighting and climbing because I’m His soldier in a war that’s worth fighting. I’m in the Lord’s army, looking for souls in need of rescue. Want to join me?

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your forgiveness and grace. Thank You for the gift the Holy Spirit and the blood of Jesus. Thank You for not only forgiving me but for purifying my conscience and cleansing my heart. Give me the strength to get back in the battle. You have already won, yet You have called me to be a soldier in Your mighty army. This is a battle that cannot be won by my own strength, but only by Your Holy Spirit. Your Word is my weapon. Have Your way in me and through me. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Nothing but the Blood – Jadon Lavik

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Standing between the Dead and the Living – Numbers 15-16 – 2025 Day 177

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 145, Numbers 15-16

Initially as I began reading Numbers 16, I thought I’d write about the extreme humility and meekness that Moses continued showing again and again, begging God to spare His people again and again. Moses didn’t just grab a sword and start cutting people down left and right, but instead asked the Lord to have mercy. But then, when I got to the end of the chapter, verse 48 hit me like a ton of bricks.

“And [Aaron] stood between the dead and the living,
and the plague was stopped.”

Numbers 16:48 ESV

Maybe your reaction doesn’t look like mine, but that’s because your life hasn’t looked like mine. I’ve had the unique honor of standing in the gap, interceding for and reasoning with atheists who are angry with God and angry with His servants. It’s an honor, a privilege, and a calling.

But it’s hard. It’s hard to get in the ring with a mustang that you know is going to lash out at any moment. Yet the only way to gentle a mustang is to get in the ring with it.

Will you please help me to lift up my hands? Will you please stand in the gap with me? Will you pray for me and will you intercede for them, too?

Let’s remember the words Christ spoke from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Jesus pursued me while I was His enemy. I want to do likewise.

Oh, Heavenly Father, thank You for the examples of Moses and Aaron, brave men who ran into the plague to rescue people who deserved Your wrath. Fill me with Your Mighty Spirit that I might do likewise. Make me like Jesus who came to seek and save the lost. Make me meek and gentle and humble. Keep me from pride, and keep me from complacency. I need You, Lord, and I need Your people to stand with me. None of us can do this on our own. In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Want to know how I went from evangelical atheist to evangelical Christian? Tune in here.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT TODAY’S VIDEO PODCAST ON YOUTUBE.

How Great (Psalm 145) – Sovereign Grace Music
Come Thou Fount (Above All Else) – Shane & Shane

A Prayer for my Family and my Nation based on the Aaronic Blessing in Numbers 6 – 2025 Day 172

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 140; Numbers 6:22-8:26

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

As Aaron and his sons prayed this over the people of Israel, I want to pray this over my family and nation. Will you join me?

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would bless my husband, my children, my grandchildren, and my nation with Your wisdom and peace. Guide them in the way that they should go. Protect them from the deceitful schemes of the evil one. Give them discerning spirits to recognize what is good and what is evil and grant them wisdom to choose that which is good.

I pray that Your face would be turned toward them, and that their hearts would likewise be turned toward You. Be gracious to them, Father. Pour Your love upon them according to Your steadfast love and mercy. May Your goodness shine gloriously upon them and out of them, that the nations of the world would be drawn to faith in Your Son.

I pray that You would smile upon them, filling their hearts with joy, hope, peace, and purpose, that they would know that You have good plans for them, plans to prosper them and not to harm them. May they follow You all the days of their lives, acknowledging You in all their ways. Please, Father, make their ways straight – not crooked or deceitful or false, not devious or evil. May they not be ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first but also to the Gentile.

Finally, Father, I pray that the peace which surpasses all comprehension would guard their hearts and their minds in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the only path to peace. He is the Only Way to You, Father. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His blood is the covering that we need to be reconciled to You, Lord. His blood is the way of redemption. May they have peace with God and peace with man, peace in their hearts and peace in their homes. And may this peace draw them to worship You and tell others about You.

In the Holy, Almighty Name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

CLICK HERE TO PRAY WITH ME ALOUD – VIDEO LINK ON YOUTUBE.

“The Lord Bless You and Keep You” Acappella Hymn – SE Samonte
“May the Lord Bless You” – Sing through the Bible
“The Lord Bless Thee” Scripture Song – Keep the Word

“Instead of” – 2025 Day 170 – Numbers 3:40-4:49

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 138, Numbers 3:40-4:49.

Hearing “instead of” can be a bad thing. Maybe someone else was chosen for a job promotion instead of your husband. Maybe the Chicago Cubs won the World Series instead of your beloved St. Louis Cardinals. (Highly unlikely.) Maybe the grocery store accidentally gave you zucchini instead of cucumbers in your grocery pickup order. (Much more likely.)

In Genesis we read this phrase “instead of” three times, and each time it’s very good. First, God gave Adam and Eve another son after Cain had killed Abel. Eve “called his name Seth, for she said, ‘God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.’” (Genesis 4:25 ESV) Next we read that, “Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13 ESV) Finally, in Genesis 44:33, Judah asks his brother, Joseph, “Please let your servant [Judah] remain instead of the boy [Benjamin] as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers.”

Today we read about the Levites who were being given to the Lord instead of the firstborns whom God had chosen during the Passover in Exodus 13.

And you shall take the Levites for me
—I am the LORD—
instead of all the firstborn
among the people of Israel,
and the cattle of the Levites
instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the people of Israel.

Numbers 3:41 ESV

And I’m reminded of the greatest “instead of” story that I’ve ever heard. God poured out His wrath on Jesus instead of me. God nailed His own son to the cross instead of me. Jesus died instead of me.

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 ESV

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of Your Son, the perfect, spotless Lamb who died instead of me. And now I can look forward with full assurance to living in eternity with You. It is in the name of Jesus Christ that I pray. Amen.

God of Every Grace – Keith and Kristyn Getty

Freedom from Lifelong Slavery – Hebrews 2 – 2025 Day 155

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 122; Hebrews 2

“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood,
He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 LSB

Growing up without God shaped how I saw life. I didn’t believe in any kind of higher power who was working behind the scenes. My life was all up to me. I was the potter, holding my own world in my hands. I believed I was the master of my own fate, the captain of my own soul, the determiner of my own destiny, so I better work hard and be good if I wanted to get ahead in life.

Not believing in God, also shaped how I saw death. My life was overshadowed by my fear of death. My last day on earth would be my last day. There was no afterlife, so I better be oh so careful how I lived.

When I became a follower of Jesus Christ in April of 1994, my views of life and death began to change. I became convinced that Almighty God ruled over my life, my death, and my life after death.

In the summer of 2023, two members of my small, local church body passed away in the same week. One was beginning his ninth decade of life, and one was beginning his second.

None of us know when our lives on earth will draw to a close. How thankful I am for the hope of life on earth with Christ, and the hope of eternal life in Heaven with Him as well. Do you have that hope or are you still in slavery to fear of death?

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the hope and peace that are mine because Jesus died in my place. I know that Jesus conquered death, and so will I. You are my hope in life and in death. Praise Your Name.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT TODAY’S VIDEO PODCAST ON YOUTUBE.

Christ our Hope in Life and Death – Keith and Kristyn Getty, and Michael W. Smith

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