From: July 20, 2024
“Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite” (2 Chronicles 3:1 ESV).
Solomon built the Temple on “Mount Moriah” where his father, David, had instructed. This was the place that the Lord had relented from His judgment for David’s sin in taking a census of Israel (2 Sam. 24:16). The Lord had told David to erect an altar on that very place where the Lord had heard David’s prayer and relented, which was the threshing floor of Ornan (Also called “Araunah”). So, David purchased the place and built an altar there.
Centuries earlier, this was the very area where the Lord had instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac: “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Gen. 22:2).
Centuries later, this was also the place where Jesus, Son of David, Son of God was offered as the Lamb of God for our sins. The Lord was merciful on Abraham and on David, yet He poured out the judgment that belonged to us upon His only Son, Jesus. The significance of Mount Moriah is that God chose to provide His Lamb for our sins there.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your great love and mercy towards us. We love how Your Word, from Old to New, points to Jesus. May our lives also point to Him, so that we live for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 20, 2023
“For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.” (Psalm 16:10 NLT).
This psalm of David was quoted by the apostle Peter (See Acts 2:27) as a biblical proof that Jesus Christ, Son of David, was prophesied to rise from the dead without seeing decay. Peter preached this sermon on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 Jews from all over the Roman world came to faith in Christ.
This Messianic prophecy revealed to David has already come to pass. Now everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ can be assured that God’s “Holy One” who defeated sin, death, and the grave will not abandon us, but will raise us to life to dwell forever with Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your Word that reveals Christ to us and through Him, our salvation. For in Christ we are assured that we have received eternal life. Strengthen us to live according to this promise today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 20, 2022
WAGES ARE EARNED BUT GIFTS ARE RECEIVED
The word translated “wages” was used to denote a Roman soldier’s pay during Paul’s time. So, “wages” are earned. Since we are all sinners (Rom. 3:23), we have all earned death. Death is the just desert for a life of sin. This death is not only the death of the body, but as it stands in opposition to “eternal life,” it is the eternal damnation of the soul, which is the “second death” (Rev. 20:14-15). The wages of sin coincide with and follow the life of sin. Wages are given as they are earned and after they are earned.
But the “free gift” of God is given before the life of righteousness that follows. After all, it is the receiving of the free gift of God that sets the sinner free from sin’s slavery and sin’s wages, so that they are made righteous before God and given eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
The economy of fallen humanity is about earning, but the economy of God is about asking and receiving. Will you stop trying to earn that which can only be received? Receive the free gift of God, which is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord and be set free from the wages of sin, which is death.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus. Help us to walk according to this new life we have in Christ and not according to our former life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 20, 2016
“Consider yourselves dead to sin.” Not toiling, nor working, but counting yourself dead to that sin which once enslaved you. And in the same breath consider yourself “alive to God.” Calling upon the Name of Jesus who paid the price for your adoption, be filled with the Spirit and walk in His power. Let Christ remove the grave clothes of your old life. Like Lazarus, arise and come forth! Put on your new clothes of righteousness in Christ Jesus and truly live!
From: July 20, 2015
This Psalm of David was quoted by the apostle Peter (Acts 2:25-36) as a biblical proof that Jesus Christ, Son of David, was prophesied to rise from the dead without seeing “corruption.” Peter preached this sermon on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 Jews from all over the world came to faith in Christ. David’s prophesy had come to pass. Now everyone who trusts in Christ can be assured that the Holy One who defeated death and the grave will not abandon us, but will raise us to life to dwell forever with Him.
From: July 20, 2014
“Consider yourselves” dead to sin. Not trying, nor working, but counting yourself dead to that sin which once enslaved you. And in the same breath consider yourself “alive to God.” Calling upon the Name of Jesus who paid the price for your adoption, be filled with the Spirit and walk in His power. Stop wearing the grave clothes. Arise, come forth! Put on clothes of righteousness and live!