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My Brother's Keeper

Volume 9, Number 2, April-June, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

Growing on the WORD

 

A scripture study

 

 

The Word of God is the source of light, truth, and power, for those who seek it’s meaning and apply it to their life. Jesus Christ is the word made flesh, and we seek to follow him.

John 8:12 (NIV) - "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Each issue of “My Broth­er’s Keeper” features a WORD study.  Sharon K. Griffee, Director of Spiritual Growth Ministry for Christian Ambassadors, Inc, brings this issue’s word study to us.

 

The Cross - The Great Clean Up!

by

Sharon K. Griffee

 

 

I John 1:7-9 (KJV) - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Everywhere Jesus went he called people to leave their life of sin and “Come, follow me”! To Jesus there was no debating about it, their life of sin had to be left behind.  Why? To follow Jesus one has to come to grips with a basic kingdom principle; sin and righteousness just don’t mix.  We can’t be double-minded and follow Jesus.  To go on with God, to gain entrance into His Kingdom, we must let go of our sin.

Facing our own sin, not in a condemning way, but recognizing it for what it is and getting it cleaned out, is something that people have a hard time doing.  Oh, it is easy for us to see other people’s sins.  We are all good at that.  It’s our own sin that we have trouble seeing.  Satan, the god of this world, works hard to blind us to the ugliness of our own sin.

Alan and I had an opportunity a while back to visit with a businessman, who by outward appearances would be considered a pillar of the community. As our conversation with him developed, we told him about our prison ministry and our involvement with those who are incarcerated. 

It was then that our lighthearted conversation suddenly took on a more serious tone, as he moved closer to us.  When he was within inches of our faces, he lowered his voice and said, “I don’t share this information with everyone, but I’m going to share it with you two, because I think you will understand; you being in prison ministry and all.  I am ashamed to admit this, but I used to look down on anyone who was sent to jail or prison - that is, until my eyes were opened and I realized that it could happen to anyone - cause it happened to me!!!” 

Sensing we were not going to judge him, but to rejoice in the lesson he learned, he continued to tell his story.  “A few years ago I found myself in a situation where I had to spend a night in jail.  I was at a party on a college campus.  I had too much to drink.  As I pulled out to drive home, apparently my car was weaving in and out; and as luck would have it, someone decided to report me to the campus police.  Well, you know the rest.  When the police came I was pulled over, arrested, and thrown in jail. I only spent one night there, but it was the most humiliating experience I’ve ever had to go through.  Nothing like that had ever happened to me before, or since.  To this day I don’t look down on folks who have fallen and find themselves in jail or prison.  I’ve learned the hard lesson that pre-judging is wrong.  It doesn’t pay to go shootin’ off at the mouth about something you know nothin’ about.”

Many people will think this man’s transgression was a minor one, that doesn’t compare to more serious sins committed by others. We tend to color code sins, ranking them from minor to major. Even within the walls of prison, inmates will label sin by magnitude. They judge other inmates on a regular basis.  Inmates will look down on a fellow inmate and assert, “I’m so thankful I never committed a crime as horrible as that guy.”

So, what is the point?  If we aren’t looking to Jesus as our perfect role model of righteousness, we will find our own comfort zone of sin and we will simply settle into it.  Jesus gives an example of what this comfort zone of sin looks like, in the book of Luke.  It is an attitude that is prevalent in every aspect of society, and one, which drives a deeper and deeper wedge between God and us.  Big or small, sin is sin, and it separates us from God.

Luke 18:9-12 (NIV) - To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men -- robbers, evildoers, adulterers -- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’”

In his prayer, the Pharisee was basi­cally thanking God that he was so holy!  Jesus wasn’t impressed and he doesn’t want us to be impressed either by those who are confident in their own righteousness. It is not how holy we are compared to other people, but how holy we are compared to God. The Pharisee may have put on a good outward show of his accomplish­ments, but his heart wasn’t with God. 

So what attitude should we have, what action must we take that will please God?  We must face our own sin, and stop comparing our sins with that of our neighbors.  Even though the Pharisee received self-satisfaction reciting his list of sins against other men, putting others down did not make him one bit more righteous.

People do like to come up with their lists, don’t they?  “The Seven Deadly Sins” list is one of them.  The problem is that we tend to glide over the list, then rationalize that we have it made.  We reason that our salvation is secure, a piece of cake, since our brand of sin doesn’t fall under a major category of sin [Thank God, I’m not like those sinners over there].

When we see all the ugliness of sin through the eyes of a Holy God, we begin to understand why Jesus went to the cross.  Whether our sin is big or small or somewhere in-between, if we are in bondage to sin, we are still separating ourselves from the presence of God.  We are separated from the blessings that God wants us to have.  It is not that God doesn’t love us or that God is holding out on us, because of our sin; but he can’t bless us if we don’t follow him.  The only way he can bless us the way he wants to is if we leave the bondage.

Do we really need a list to tell us how deadly our sin is?  No, our gut tells us, if we stay in sin too long, it can kill us!  We need only a reminder; we were all dead in our sins when Jesus went to the cross!!!  Paul wrote:

Colossians 2:13-15 (NIV) - When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Since God placed us in the world where we are subject to the powers of evil, God, in Christ, took upon himself the responsibility for our redemption.  He did for us what we could never do for ourselves–atone for our own sins. 

At the cross the powers of evil were conquered once and for all, when Jesus took upon himself the job of cleaning up the mess the devil had inflicted upon mankind.  The work of the devil had to be destroyed (I John 3:8), to prepare for new life.  The record [the list] of every shade of sin, which was held against man, was nailed to the cross, wiped out as if it had never been.  In Jesus, the light of truth came to the world.  The message was profound!  Total freedom from the bondage of sin, is the only way one can be saved into God’s Kingdom! There is no such thing as partial salvation.  One cannot be saved halfway or even three quarters into the Kingdom of God.  One has to be in it all the way with Jesus or not at all!

I Corinthians 6:20 (NIV) - You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Because we were bought at a price, the shed blood of Jesus, our response can only be that of honoring God with our very lives.  Unless we lay down the old life [leave our life of sin] and take up the new life [follow Jesus into righteousness] we are still in bondage to sin!

The bottom line; if we are not willing to die to our old self on the cross [symbolically] with Jesus, and rise up with him in the resurrection of new life, our relationship with him is over, before it even begins.  Why?  Until we are saved from the bondage of Satan, we are not free to enter into the Kingdom of God!  It is impossible for us to live in two different kingdoms at the same time, following opposing direction from two different Lords.  Thus, if we are not saved from the bondage of sin, then how can we say we are saved into the Kingdom of God?

Matthew 7:21 (NIV) - Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

As long as our will remains in opposition to the will of God, our rebellion will keep us from entering God’s Kingdom.  To enter the kingdom of heaven, our will must first be reconciled to the will of God.

John 15:6 (NIV) - If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

In conclusion, to remain under God’s grace and to be wholly united with him in Jesus Christ, we must take up the cross daily and follow Him.  See: Luke 9:23.

Romans 6:5-11 (NIV) - If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin -- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he  died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes

by

Earlily Aganon

 

Sometimes it’s easier to quit

than to continue the journey

Sometimes it’s easier to dream

than to face reality.

 

Sometimes it’s easier to cry

than to say a prayer

Sometimes I forget God

who can show me the way.

 

How often do I forget

“Sometimes” is not all good?  ‘Cause

Sometimes it’s easier to take it back

than to trust and give it all to God.

 

Sometimes it’s easier to ignore

than to hear His voice

But more and more God is telling me

My child let go of “sometimes”.

 

---------------------------------------

Earlily Aganon is an inmate at Women’s

Community Correctional in Kailua, Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing the Good News

 

“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

II Corinthians 5:20-21

 

 

From: Louis McCray,

Woodbourne Correctional,

Woodbourne, New York

Dear Brother Okechukwu, CA Nigeria, Your article “Freedom Is Not Free”, in the January-March issue of My Brother’s Keeper, needs to be in every magazine, news-paper...etc., because we forget that Jesus Christ paid a price that none of us could pay for the world.  I cried when I finished reading your article.  Let the truth touch our hearts and move us away from wickedness, right into the loving arms of our Father.  And, even then we have a price to pay to get there, and one is giving up our sinful ways, Amen.  Thank you for your words and reminder of the price of freedom.  God Bless you! 
Brother Louis

=======================

From: Miguel Zamora,

Arkansas Valley Correctional

Crowley, Colorado

Dear Sharon, You and Mr. Griffee are part of my thoughts and prayers.  I received your wonderful letter and the song Long Black Train.  “No”, I would not like to ride the train. I have been on that train, Sharon. I enjoy My Brother’s Keeper and I want you to know that I appreciate your nice letter and your thoughts of us [who are incarcerated].  Keep up the good work and May God Bless you and Mr. Griffee, and keep you safe. 
Your friend always, Miguel.

=======================

From: Timothy Jones,

Connecticut Correctional,

Uncasville, Connecticut

Dear Sharon, I’m writing to inform you of my change of address.  I love your Spiritual Growth Lessons and your Newsletters.  The poems are just awesome!  And, it’s a blessing to receive them.  Thank you so much!  You, your family, and the Christian Ambassadors staff are in my prayers.

Romans 5:1 (NIV) “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

=======================

From: Rick Donohoe,
Idaho Dept. of Corrections,

Boise, Idaho

Dear Sharon, Thank you very much for this month’s newsletter. I enjoy all of your newsletters and this one even more so. I love the song, Long Black Train.  I have been wanting to get the words to the song, so that we could sing it at Church and Bible study.  I asked a few different people to see if they could get the words to the song for me, but no one has been able to.

Finally last night I decided to have a pen and paper ready when the song came on the TV.  I was only able to get a few of the verses written down before the song was over.  Then tonight, there was your newsletter [with the words to Long Black Train].  What timing!  Praise God! A friend of mine is copying the song for himself right now.  Within a week many men will be singing Long Black Train here at SICI.  Thank you very much!

I pray that all is well with you and Alan.  God Bless you and yours.  Your brother in Christ, Rick.

=======================

From: Edward Alford

Bibb County Correctional,

Brent, Alabama

Dear Alan and Sharon: Just wanted to write and wish you both well. I hope the New Year is blessed for you! 

Things are going well here at Bibb County.  The [faith-based] class I facilitate “Ambassadors of Christ” is doing very well.  God is truly awesome!!!  We have twenty-seven students, which actually exceeds the recommended class size by two. 

If you will, I need more “Spiritual Growth Lessons”!!!  One copy of each lesson will suffice since we read the lessons out loud and cross-reference using our Bibles.  This method seems to work more efficiently than giving each participant a copy of the lesson.  Not having the lesson before them encourages attentiveness to what is being said.  J  Again, I hope the year is going well for both of you!  I will look forward to hearing from you soon.  In Christ, Edward.

=======================

From: Earlily Aganon

Women’s Correctional

Kailua, Hawaii

Dear Sharon,

I am so excited to tell you that I was able to share with my faith-based class about recognizing God’s Voice.  We are having a class called “Ordinary Day With Jesus”.  One chapter covers “Leadings”.  I volunteered to facilitate this chapter, using the lessons you sent to me!!!  Well, the class learned a lot from it and the teacher said I did a good job!!!

Sharon, I am still in pursuit of God’s will revealed in His written Word and more and more my character defects are becoming transparent...but I am growing! God bless you, Earlily

======================

From: Emilio Martinez,

Camp Gabriels Correctional,

Gabriels, New York

Dear Sharon, Once again I pray that this letter finds you in the very best of health and in His ever-loving care.  After I received your letter I felt much closer to “Him” [Jesus].  Thank you for your ambassadorship!

God is good and I can’t say it enough...my sufferings as I see it today was part of my teachings; “The teacher has come and is calling for you (John 11:28b)”.

Thanks to Him I’m an addict in recovery who never again has to use or be alone.  Most importantly, I thank Him for opening my eyes before it was too late!  I have plenty to be grateful for and only because of “Him”, so for that I must do right through action and with His strength and love on my side, I can’t and won’t let the devil back in;

 “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love (John 15:10a)”.  “The Lord is...not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)”; “[God our Savior] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:4)”. 

Thank you again Sharon, for you too, are a blessing sent my way,
in Christ’s Love, Emilio.

=======================

From: Robert Staggs,

Garza East,
Beeville, Texas

Dear Sharon, Hello, I just received your letter today.  It always lifts my spirits to hear from you. 

I want you to know I have changed the course of my prayer life.  As I began to think about what you said in your last Spiritual Growth Lesson [Penetrating The Wall Of Grace]; and evaluate my prayer life and relationship with God; I noticed I had been putting a lot of emphasis on seeking God’s hand, rather than His face.  I wouldn’t want to feel like that, someone always coming to ask me for something, but not fellowshipping.  I wouldn’t feel very loved.  So, I took a look there and I am still working to have a life style and relationship that pleases God.  I have far from arrived, but I am trying, Sharon. 

Also, what you said to me about “sin” is the same thing a Christian brother in here has been saying to me.  I need to deal with the root of my problems!  The sin!  How true! I have many areas I need to give over to the Lord.  When I’m in the Word and regular fellowship with God I’m stronger.  When I am slack in my relationship with God, it’s easier not to feel as guilty. 

I’m sorry this letter is so much about me.  That’s another thing I need to change, I need to start helping others and focus on God more!  God Bless you, Sharon.  Your friend, Robert.

======================

From: Hosea Davis,

Hudson Correctional Facility,

Hudson, New York

Dear Sister Sharon, I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and knowledge.

I thank the Lord for you, Sister Sharon, for being available and capable of being used for God.  I thank God and I appreciate you for the “hard word” that exposes my heart, that corrects me, that reproofs me, so that I may be in right-standing with God (2 Timothy 3:16).  My desire always is to develop a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.

I’m reminded of the apostle Paul, he was of age and the scripture says in the book of Philippians 3:7-9, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him...”

I have not forsaken my calling, because of my incarceration.  I’m holding on to God’s unchanging hands.

I will conclude with, I thank the Lord for your encouragement!!!  The Bible says in Hebrews 6:10, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”  I’m blessed and I’m praying for you, your brother in the Gospel, Hosea.

======================

From: Joe Huff

Colorado State Penitentiary

Cañon City, CO

 

Dear Sharon, I’ve wanted to write and talk about things.  But, truth of the matter is I’m hard headed, and in need of a hard lesson.  They are the only ones that do me any good.  The Lord had to get my attention and that took some doin’. 

Looking back on it now I can only shake my head in wonder.  Like, I wonder what I was thinking?  You know?  As everything slowly began to unravel, I started to justify my actions to myself, convinced “I” knew what was best for Joe.  It wasn’t until recently that my eyes were opened and I saw the road I was on, and way over yonder the road I was supposed to be on.  It is a very humbling experience.  One of your Spiritual Growth Lessons played a big part in my awareness.  I want to thank you for continuing to send those to me. 

But, like I said, I’m hard headed and it takes a wop with a big stick to get my attention sometimes.  He [God] has my attention now, and I am humbled.  I am very very sincere about this.  I will follow His lead.  Thanks for writing!  Joe

======================

From: Samuel A. Sutton

Arrowhead Correctional

Cañon City, Colorado

Dear Brother Alan & Sister Sharon,
Praise the Lord!  I pray that the ministry is growing and prospering in the abundance of Kingdom values.  What a big blessing you are to my walk.  I thank the Lord for you guys! 

“This is my comfort in my affliction, for your Word has given me life.”  Psalm 119:50 and see also Isaiah 54:1-17

It’s a pleasure to be able to keep in touch with you.  May God keep the both of you safely within the center of His will.  Yours truly in Christ, Samuel. 

P.S.  “The Word of God will comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”

======================

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Your let­ters of inquiry about our ministry are welcome and appreciated. If you or a loved one is incarcerated in a jail or prison facility, anywhere in the US or abroad, please write for more infor­mation:

Christian Ambassadors, Inc.
PO Box 260812

Littleton, CO 80163-0812 USA

Your family and friends may also check our website at:
www.christian-ambassadors.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When The World Tests You - Confess Jesus Christ!

by

Craig Ray Montgomery

 

 

It’s good to know you can call upon Jesus Christ in times of need. In the Holy Bible it tells us in the book of Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) - “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths.”

Today a man asked me if I knew what Proverbs 3:5-6 said. I thought for a minute and said, “no”. But yet, I’m this person who is supposed to know the word of God, and I just couldn’t remember this passage at all. But when this person went on to quote the passage, the Holy Spirit moved in my spirit and brought my memory back. I knew it after all! The point I’m mak­ing is this; we must realize that the world will always test us, and it’s not always important to know all the scriptures in the Bible. It is, however, very important that people know who we are, whom we belong to; this man knew I was a child of God.

I make it my duty to confess Jesus Christ, as much as possible. It’s amazing what happens when we put the Kingdom of God first in our lives. People will know we truly are blessed, different, and spiritual. The truth of the matter is that we are ambassadors for Christ, and our spiritual light is shining. Many folks know about Jesus Christ. However, there are many who don’t know Jesus Christ at all. We as believers must do what is right in the name of Jesus, to witness and tell the world about salvation through the one and only redeemer, Jesus Christ.

But, we can’t overlook the reality of spiritual warfare, because this is what believers in Jesus Christ are up against. One of the most popular verses in the Bible is John 3:16 -“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Many people know the Holy Spirit, but refuse to change their sinful nature and ways. They refuse to surren­der unto the saving blood, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ.

The words I write today are just a reminder to the body of Christ, and to warriors for King Jesus, to keep the faith and not to become lazy or over­burdened with your high calling. I encourage you now to keep on fight­ing the good fight of faith and salvation.

I’m excited in my spirit! The Lord has called me to be a man of valor (cour­age, boldness), and I know there is no condemnation against me, in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). So, it doesn’t matter if people come up to me every day asking questions I may not know about the Holy Bible. I can share what I do know from my personal studies and testimony. I can share the words the Holy Spirit gives me to say! We must keep the Kingdom of God first in all things we say and do in our lives. Is this what Proverbs 3:5-6 is telling the body of Christ, and you the reader? YES! Amen.

The situation that happened to me can happen to you. Anyone can ask you something spiritual at any moment. The next time I see the person who asked me if I knew what Proverbs 3:5-6 said, I may just share more Bible verses with him. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll even ask a few more questions about trusting in Jesus Christ and seeking him more.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a very powerful passage from the word of God. It’s a bottom-line message; we can’t let our guards down, we can’t judge books by their covers, and we must remem­ber that the enemy knows God’s word, too. So test the spirits out there! This is one of many reasons why we must trust in the Lord Jesus Christ with all our hearts, and lean not unto our own understanding.

If you know someone who may ask questions about the word of God, or your faith walk, invite them into a more in-depth conversation about be­ing saved and fellowship with them. We never know when the Lord Jesus has placed one of his lost sheep in front of us, so we can be used as a vessel to lead them home.

The Ministry of Jesus Christ is not just found inside the walls of modern day churches. The Holy Church of Jesus Christ is our physical body when we are a believer in Christ. The Church is each man and woman of God. We are the living Temples for God!

II Corinthians 6:16 (KJV) - “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the tem­ple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

We (God’s people) must take the word into all of the world. This means we must take the word into homes, places of employment, schools, stores, malls, streets, gyms, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord leads us. The Church needs to take the word of God to the White House, the crack house, and beyond. Let’s all be stronger; let’s be stronger in our faith in Jesus Christ, and whenever someone asks about Jesus Christ...tell them!!!

May God Bless you!

------------------------------------------

Craig Ray Montgomery is an inmate at Camp George West in Golden, CO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Create In Me A Clean Heart

Contributed by Samuel Sutton
ACC, Canon City, CO

 

 

Jude 19-23 - These be they who separate themselves, sensual, hav­ing not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eter­nal life. And of some have compas­sion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

“During his defense summation at my sentencing the attorney who repre­sented me said, “Sexual offenders are considered...Lepers...People who should be placed away from society.”

The Word of God speaks of people who are “Placed Away” in the Old Testament and teaches in the New Testament about Christ Jesus and His miraculous healings of “Placed Away” souls. I have seared in my life and I know that the choices that I have made, placed me away from the presence of the only One who can heal, save my soul and totally bring me back from being totally lost. Glory to God. Only He can totally forgive!!!

Our Lord God designated Aaron (the older brother of Moses) to be High Priest and his sons and their descen­dant were Priests of the Tabernacle.

Exodus 28:1 - “Now take Aaron your brother and his sons, with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minis­ter to me as priests, Aaron and Aaron’s sons...”

The ultimate function of the Priest was to bless the people. Sacrifices were offered to cleanse the Priests so that they could be cleansed, so they could receive God’s blessing.

The Book of Leviticus, in the 13th and 14th chapters shares with us some passages of the Law concerning Leprosy, leprous garments, rituals for cleansing healed lepers and lep­rous houses. Priests examined a man’s condition, his garments and home, determining if he was clean or unclean. There is a tendency for man to put off having his condition checked but in the camp of the Israel­ites, ritual impurity was a serious matter for all the people. If the af­flicted person did not come on his own, his family and clan leaders were responsible to bring him in. Serious skin diseases, like leprosy, be­came like a metaphor for sin. Sin is dangerous, ultimately fatal, difficult to diagnose and incurable without God’s intervention. Sin will isolate its victim from God, worship and from the community of faith.

Numbers 5:2 - Command the chil­dren of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whoso­ever is defiled by the dead.

In the Book of Numbers, Lepers are described as unclean persons who were put outside the camp where God, in their midst, dwelled with His people.

Are people blameless who experience sufferings, compared to those who have chosen to live a life full of will­ful sin? The Word of God says that the world is under the righteous judgment of our righteous God. Every disease, infirmity, tear of sorrow and/or act of cruelty is the collective re­sult of sin.

Numbers 12:11-12 - “Alas, my Lord, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. Let her not be as one dead.”

A demonstration of God’s righteous judgments toward sin and those who have committed sin in His presence is found in the Book of Numbers. Miriam and Aaron have angered God by their choice to commit sin. As a result of this, Miriam who is Aaron’s sister and Moses’ stepsister has been afflicted with Leprosy. Miriam was placed in a position of favor but her envy of Moses brought her great chastisement. This is just one example of the righteous judgment of God to­ward those who choose to sin in his presence. Aaron pleaded to Moses for his sister. Moses stood in the gap and prayed for healing and forgiveness. Miriam was “shut out” of the camp and then brought back in again. Moses is a foreshadow of Jesus Christ, who stands in the gap for us. The faithfulness of Moses and the intimate relationship He had with God was enough to atone for Miriam’s sin.

Luke 5:12,13; Mark 1:40-41 -
“A man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus...and implored Him...Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean...I am willing, be cleansed.”

The Old Testament shows us the grace of God in this account of Moses, Aaron and Miriam. The New Testament therefore teaches about the grace of God through Jesus Christ. In this age of grace we learn of the miraculous healings. His preaching and His willingness to suffer, die and be raised bodily from the dead for our sins so that we won’t have to be “placed away” forever from His presence. He is willing to forgive us of all our sins. When we receive Jesus as our Savior we are not condemned to be “placed away” from the pres­ence of God any longer.

Luke 17:12,15-19 - Then He en­tered a certain village, there met him ten men who were lepers, who stood far off...and one of them when he saw that he was healed, returned...giving him thanks and he was a Samaritan...so Jesus an­swered and said, “were there not ten cleansed? Away, go; your faith has made you well.”

By grace we are saved through faith. By the grace of God, we can come into the presence of God through prayer. In the Old Testament we are shown God’s righteousness and often we will see demonstrations of His mercy and grace. In the New Testa­ment we are taught about the inter­ceding Son of God, His preaching, miraculous healings, sufferings, and His dying and being raised from the grave to forgive the world of our sins.

Romans 8:34 (KJV) - “...It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

Both the Old and the New Testaments describe that others could not touch a leper unless whoever touched them would become unclean themselves. Our Lord Jesus Christ touched the lepers, the sick, the sinner and brought them back into a right stand­ing relationship with God. Aren’t you totally glad and thankful that by re­ceiving Jesus as your Savior that His Spirit abides in you and likewise you abide in Him? By the blood of His sacrifice, we are cleansed and the condition of our heart is conformed to His image. I am not “shut out” from the presence of God. I have been jus­tified by the righteousness of Christ, fully healed and made whole within the camp of God’s holiness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 - “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

 

 

 

 

Excuses

By Merissa Lee Kelley

Newport News, Virginia

 

I dreamed I stood before the throne with no one else around,

Just God and I, face to face, so I knelt on holy ground.

“Where is everybody else?  Why am I alone?

Why aren’t scores of people here, to gather at your throne?”

 

And then God spoke, “My dearest child, you have no need to fear.

There’s something that you need to know, that’s why I’ve brought you here.

Your excuses have reached the limit; you blame others when you slip,

But when you face me Judgment Day, it will be a solo trip.”

 

“I’ve heard them all, every last excuse, you’ve tried out every one.

From A to Z and back again, to everything under the sun.

You’re not alone in this endeavor; most humans are that way,

But time is running out my child, it will soon be Judgment Day.”

 

“You cannot blame another soul for the choices that you make.

You cannot blame everybody else for the “roads” you didn’t take.

And those who point to “hypocrites” as an excuse to stay away,

Will find that reason just won’t fly, when they use it Judgment Day.”

 

“Accountability is rare nowadays, it’s easier shifting the blame.

It’s always someone else’s fault...seems to be a popular game.

But Judgment day is “one on one”; you will answer just for you,

And all the excuses you’ve used before, won’t work to get you through.”

 

“How much more could I show my love? I gave this world my son.

And with his death, he conquered sin and redemption’s plan was done.

Time is short, but excuses go on...yet my mercy goes on too,

So take this time to understand, this glimpse I’ve given you.”

 

And as I knelt before His throne, I knew without a doubt,

That even excuses aren’t enough to make His love run out.

I thanked Him for the view He gave and truth that set me free,

That God’s own son didn’t try an excuse to avoid the cross for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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