And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. (Exo 30:11-12, 15-16)
The Lord knows who are His, and that each has been paid for. For Israel, they and their descendants were redeemed from Egypt with a mighty hand, so GOD exacted a ransom for each, for the service of the Tabernacle. Each person also had to make atonement, not in themselves, for none of us is worthy or able, but in the obedience and offering that they brought to GOD. Not only were they to bring that offering to GOD at the Tabernacle where He met them, but the Tabernacle was to remind them of the cost, for sIn, and for their redemption.
We too, must remember what it cost our Lord to redeem us from sIn and death. He gave His all, that we who were unworthy and unable to pay our own sIn debt, could be made free in Christ. Not free to go and sIn again, but to go and sIn no more.We give ourselves now, a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable to GOD, that He might use us to further His Work and do His Will.
His Will for us, is that His people, those born again because of our faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, should be about our Father's business. We are to minister as priests and servants of GOD to the hurting and in need, that they may see Christ in us. We are to disciple one another in love, as committed and disciplined followers of the Master. We are to proclaim the Good News to all we meet. As we go, we are to tell them of Jesus Christ and what He has done for us, and those that hear the Gospel may believe, and believing have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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