GRACE: THE CITY OF REFUGE
Friday, February 5, 2016
Deuteronomy 19:1-9
“He shall flee to one of those cities, and live, lest the avenger of the blood… take him…” 5,6
In Israel there were cities of refuge designed to be situated close enough to the people so that peradventure a person kills another by accident or in circumstances beyond his control he may run to one of those cities before a blood avenger finds him and kills him in the heat of passion.
In the New Testament that city of refuge is Jesus Christ. For “the name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” Proverbs 18:10 The name Lord refers to the office Jesus assumed after destroying death and hell, for he is now Lord over all.
Dear Christian, I know you make some mistakes, sometimes you get out of control, anger, masturbation, habits, name them, get the larger part of you. You don’t have to live in condemnation, Jesus does not condemn you, let me show you why you fall…
“If thou faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” Prov 24:10 The reason why you fail is not because you don’t believe/love Jesus, in fact your faith in Jesus is what makes you feel bad thereafter, it is a sign that a greater power overrides your will, your strength is small.
I know pastors have condemned you that “the soul that sins shall die” yes the soul that sins shall die, but there is room for substitution, you don’t have to die for your sins, no matter how bad it is, someone has died already, believing in him is your safe refuge.
There are certain battles you cannot win, you cannot win arguing with the devil after you have sinned or putting yourself in a psychological therapy that all is well, agree with you adversary, but confess your sin to your advocate, tell the devil you are not perfect in yourself, Jesus is your righteousness, he is your substitute
Jesus can keep you from condemnation; he said he would keep you secretly in his pavilion from the strife of tongues Psalm 31:10. But friend, its time you engage the power of salvation, its time you contend for a deeper revelation of God’s love and grace, by looking on him you become stronger. You could also make a decision to follow Jesus today if you haven’t. Jesus loves you
SELAH: God has not condemned you my friend, come to the city of refuge.
Shalom!
