The Devotional - Propitation

The Devotional –

Comment: Well, I’ve never done that before!!! The Devotional went out on the blog, but when I sent it by email, I sent a blank page. Certainly I do apologize for that, but “old people” do strange things that make younger people “fear” growing old. Most waited patiently, but my wife quickly let me know what happened, so did a brother in Christ as well. Thanks to you both for your help. Laughter is the best medicine for the body, but always; it will be the Living Word of our Holy God that will provide His Statutes for our soul to rejoice and stay spiritually healthy. As King David says by the Holy Spirit… “The statutes of the LORD are RIGHT, rejoicing the heart/soul. Psalm 19:10”.

Devotional: John 13 – What might drive a man to a voluntary death? Have you thought much about this? The apostle Paul answers the question in Romans 5:6 with these inspired words. “For while we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” If you are saved than you know that you now have “strength” to live, strength not of your own, but strength given to you. Why? Notice Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own LOVE toward us, in that while we were still sinners (without strength), Christ died for us.

The apostle John in his first epistle writes in chapter 4:10 – In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Propitiate is a big word even for the apostle John who writes plainly for our understanding. The best way for me to understand the word is by example. If someone is in danger of death, and you stand in that persons place, you become the propitiation for that person to live while you die.

The apostle Paul in Romans 5:7 says “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.” This action can be a force of love, as it is a reaction of the soul. It is often found on the battlefields and in the face of terrorism. God will reward those who do this because of the love of God in them.

Many sermons and rituals find a resting place in John 13 and much wisdom has been extracted from the chapter bringing people to Christ. Yes Jesus is the Servant who cleanses away sin and death, He is our “propitiation”. Also in this chapter Jesus identifies His betrayer, verse 26 and 27. However the section I wish to highlight this morning is verse 31 through 35. What good would it be to wash the feet of people, or reveal a betrayer and a denier if the two were not treated equally as all the rest with LOVE?

To receive Jesus is to receive God, Jesus is God, but those who betray Him take from Him, His love rejected; for material gain, such as Judas. His love accepted is; for Spiritual gain, such as Peter. Notice: When he had gone (Judas), Jesus said, (please read) John 13:31-35. Greater love has no man than this, that He should lay down His life for His friends, see John 15:13 and John 13:36-38. Both disciples reveal the Love of God in real life. Even today there are the rejecters and the accepters, which one are you?