Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 20-21
Scripture Focus: And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21.22-23)
Devotional Thought: Have you ever had someone hold a grudge against you? Or, have you ever had someone who professes to forgive you but who keeps bringing up the offense? That's not fun, is it? God is not like that. When it comes to our offenses, his desire is to remove them completely from his memory. We are reminded of that in today's scripture which is quoted in the New Testament: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'" (Galatians 3.13).
The focus of the law in Deuteronomy was to prevent the land from becoming cursed by leaving a hanged man on a tree overnight. The memory of that sin was to be wiped away from sight. The focus of the New Testament is that Jesus, who became a curse for us, wipes away even the memory of sin. God remembers our sins no more (Hebrews 8.12).
There may be people who will not forgive you. You may feel that you can't even forgive yourself. But, aren't you glad that Jesus became a curse for you, taking away your sin to bury it in "the depths of the sea", to remove it from you "as far as the east is from the west"? I love the words of that old gospel chorus: "What sins are you talking about? I don't remember them anymore."
Amen!
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you became a curse for me and in so doing you have removed my sins and cleansed me from all unrighteousness. Now, O Lord, help me to live a life worthy of your sacrifice. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 22.25-31
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
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