April 6

Today is Good Friday in the Western Christian World. The Greek Orthodox church celebrates Easter on April 15 and so their Good Friday is April 13.
For all my Western Christian friends, I wish you grace and peace on this day.
My pastor says you can't have the joy of Easter without the pain of Good Friday and I know he is right. But it is very painful for me to imagine that Jesus would willingly set his face towards that path and walk it.

OT -- Deuteronomy 29:1- 30:20
Several things struck me in this passage. One of which I knew but only because I had read it previously in the Stone Chumash. vs. 29:5 says "During the 40 years that I led you in the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet."
I realize that if God could raise a man from the dead (or a little girl or a teenage boy or his friend Lazarus), what are clothes to him. Still, that seems remarkable. I find these small details about the Exodus fascinating.
vs 30:11 "Now what I am commanding you to do is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. Is is not up in heaven so that you have to ask 'Who will ascend into heaven to et it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it.'"
So if it isn't that hard (to love the Lord and not worship other idols), why did they do it? Why turn almost immediately to other gods? Heck, why do we?
And finally, Moses' admonition to 'choose life'. This is what L'chaim means. Not 'to' life, but CHOOSE life.
Folks, snug up in God's embrace and choose Him.


NT -- Luke 11:37-12:17
Vs 12:6 "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrow."
Do you remember what the sparrows were being sold for? To be killed as sacrifices for someone's sin. Now, granted, they wouldn't have been grown if they weren't bound for the Temple sacrifice market.
What does that say about Jesus? Isn't he the ultimate Temple sacrifice?
Pennies we would pay for sparrows. Judas got 30 silver coins. What did we pay for his sacrifice for us? What does God require?
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

Psalm 78
Wow, a restatement of Moses' sermon! Love it!

Have a blessed day.