Day 277 – October 4, 2021
Scriptures: Jeremiah 19-22, Hebrews 4 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) “They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molek, though I never commanded—nor did it enter my mind—that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.” (Jeremiah 32:35) Jeremiah speaks of the terrible atrocities that are occurring in the life of Judah. They’ve done more than walk away from the Lord, they have completely forgotten him and his ways. So severe is their sin, God’s heart is utterly broken over the sin of the people. The evil, in Ben Hinnom (NT=Gehenna) is the garbage heap of Jerusalem, and children are sacrificed there. This is unimaginable sin in the eyes of God. This sinful influence is prevailing throughout Judah. Jeremiah has an impassioned plea that the people would repent and return to the Lord. Jesus will teach us that Ben Hinnom or in the Greek, Gehenna, is a place reserved for those who refuse to turn from sin. “And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,” (Mark 9:47) When you read your New Testament, the English translators use Hell to translate Gehenna. The most vial place on earth, furthest from the mind and heart of God, where child sacrifice, and worship of Molek reigns – to capture the severity, the word chosen to best express Gehenna is “Hell.” Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart. Pluck from your eyes the sin that causes us to stumble. Don’t harden your heart and walk away from Him. Let us learn from the past of the brokenness of the world., and open our hearts to him today. Together we can enter into his rest. The invitation of Hebrews is the gift of Rest in the Lord. Jordan
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AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
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