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"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool" (Isaiah 1:18).
We are glad to report that our heavy accumulated snow here in Lancaster County is now melting as we usher in the first day of March. Yesterday, through the large windows in our church, we could see a light snow falling during the service; a perfect visual backdrop for the song, "White as Snow" as it was being sung just before we gathered for Communion around the Lord's Table.
Scripture often uses the natural wonders of God's creation to illustrate His intricate work in our lives. Since Israel is in a hot climate, it rarely snows, yet Mount Hermon has a snow cap that can be seen throughout much of northern Israel. The prophet Isaiah uses the picture of pure white snow as a depiction of God's cleansing work in our lives, exchanging our crimson sins for His pure driven snow.
David, in his great prayer of repentance cried out to God, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7). Hyssop, commonly used in the Bible period, was considered a "holy herb". It was used for individual cleansing and for purifying temples and sacred places. David knew he needed more than a light dusting from his adulterous and bloody trail of sins he had left behind. He wanted to be thoroughly cleansed from the evil that had spread through his spirit like a deadly cancer. No matter how little or how great the quantity or intensity of our sins, our need for forgiveness is ever before us.
We also see this spiritual teaching described by Isaiah in our daily text, "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool" (Isaiah 1:18). The Hebrew word for "scarlet" radically means double-dyed. Like the deep-fixed permanency of sin in the heart no mere tears can wash it away. It requires the sacrificial blood of the Lamb applied to our hearts.
The promise made to the prophet Isaiah is ours to accept today. The great Judge of the universe says "Come now, let us reason together." The word "reason" is a legal term. The New Testament also uses a legal term to describe Christ's work on our behalf as our "advocate." "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).
Our advocate is motivated by AGAPE love. His advocacy on our behalf is impassioned and earnest. He paid the full price for our freedom. Our position is to accept this gift by faith. We bring nothing to the courtroom but absolute guilt. But our Advocate, Jesus Christ, paid the full price for our redemption and welcomes us into His courtroom of grace. Live with this blessed assurance today and truly be encouraged!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, I thank You for Jesus who entered the Courtroom of Justice with me as I sought favor with You. I went to relinquish my sins but the only problem is that I had no defense or payment to offer in exchange for them. I entered the Courtroom dressed in my very best as I presented to You my righteous acts but one by one I realized they were seen as filthy, crimson rags. They were like leaves that shrivel up when detached from the vine.
But then Your Son, Jesus, my Advocate, took His robe of righteousness and lovingly placed it over my heavy shoulders. It was at that glorious moment that I realized You looked away from my filthy, crimson rags that Jesus removed and You looked upon my new robe of righteousness. I was able to give You nothing but a heart full of crimson stains but You exchanged it for a surrendered heart that is now white as snow. I am wholly grateful that when You look at me You see Jesus' righteousness. He paid the full price, He paid it all. I owe Him everything and it will take all my remaining days and all eternity to express my love and gratitude for His incomparable love and sacrifice toward me. Amen.
"White As Snow" Video
"Whiter Than The Snow" Video Video
"Whiter Than Snow" Video
"Who Am I?" Video Last night Ester went with a group of young adults to see Casting Crowns in Hershey, PA.
Monday, March 1, 2010
"Falling Snow"
"Falling Snow"
Listen to this message on your
audio player. "White As Snow"
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool" (Isaiah 1:18).
We are glad to report that our heavy accumulated snow here in Lancaster County is now melting as we usher in the first day of March. Yesterday, through the large windows in our church, we could see a light snow falling during the service; a perfect visual backdrop for the song, "White as Snow" as it was being sung just before we gathered for Communion around the Lord's Table.
Scripture often uses the natural wonders of God's creation to illustrate His intricate work in our lives. Since Israel is in a hot climate, it rarely snows, yet Mount Hermon has a snow cap that can be seen throughout much of northern Israel. The prophet Isaiah uses the picture of pure white snow as a depiction of God's cleansing work in our lives, exchanging our crimson sins for His pure driven snow.
David, in his great prayer of repentance cried out to God, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7). Hyssop, commonly used in the Bible period, was considered a "holy herb". It was used for individual cleansing and for purifying temples and sacred places. David knew he needed more than a light dusting from his adulterous and bloody trail of sins he had left behind. He wanted to be thoroughly cleansed from the evil that had spread through his spirit like a deadly cancer. No matter how little or how great the quantity or intensity of our sins, our need for forgiveness is ever before us.
We also see this spiritual teaching described by Isaiah in our daily text, "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool" (Isaiah 1:18). The Hebrew word for "scarlet" radically means double-dyed. Like the deep-fixed permanency of sin in the heart no mere tears can wash it away. It requires the sacrificial blood of the Lamb applied to our hearts.
The promise made to the prophet Isaiah is ours to accept today. The great Judge of the universe says "Come now, let us reason together." The word "reason" is a legal term. The New Testament also uses a legal term to describe Christ's work on our behalf as our "advocate." "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).
Our advocate is motivated by AGAPE love. His advocacy on our behalf is impassioned and earnest. He paid the full price for our freedom. Our position is to accept this gift by faith. We bring nothing to the courtroom but absolute guilt. But our Advocate, Jesus Christ, paid the full price for our redemption and welcomes us into His courtroom of grace. Live with this blessed assurance today and truly be encouraged!
White as snow, white as snow,
Though my sins were as scarlet,
Lord I know, Lord I know
That I'm clean and forgiven
Through the power of Your blood
Through the wonder of Your love
Through faith in You I know that I can be
White as snow
Though my sins were as scarlet,
Lord I know, Lord I know
That I'm clean and forgiven
Through the power of Your blood
Through the wonder of Your love
Through faith in You I know that I can be
White as snow
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, I thank You for Jesus who entered the Courtroom of Justice with me as I sought favor with You. I went to relinquish my sins but the only problem is that I had no defense or payment to offer in exchange for them. I entered the Courtroom dressed in my very best as I presented to You my righteous acts but one by one I realized they were seen as filthy, crimson rags. They were like leaves that shrivel up when detached from the vine.
But then Your Son, Jesus, my Advocate, took His robe of righteousness and lovingly placed it over my heavy shoulders. It was at that glorious moment that I realized You looked away from my filthy, crimson rags that Jesus removed and You looked upon my new robe of righteousness. I was able to give You nothing but a heart full of crimson stains but You exchanged it for a surrendered heart that is now white as snow. I am wholly grateful that when You look at me You see Jesus' righteousness. He paid the full price, He paid it all. I owe Him everything and it will take all my remaining days and all eternity to express my love and gratitude for His incomparable love and sacrifice toward me. Amen.
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"White As Snow" Video
"Whiter Than The Snow" Video Video
"Whiter Than Snow" Video
"Who Am I?" Video Last night Ester went with a group of young adults to see Casting Crowns in Hershey, PA.
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Scripture
references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version.
© 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD
BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation,
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