“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” – Luke 7:47

Much of our openness and passion for Jesus depends on how well we understand our personal track record of sin. The fundamental mission of Jesus was to redeem sinful people from their sin and the eternal separation from God that it caused. Jesus lived a sinless life, died a terrible death on a cross, and rose from the dead to atone for our sins and set everyone who believes in Him free from those sins and their consequence.

For those who don’t think they’ve sinned, that doesn’t have much appeal. For those who think they’ve only sinned a little, that may sound nice but doesn’t seem like a big deal. In this verse, that’s the fundamental difference between a woman who understood her lifetime of sin and shame and what Jesus did for her and a religious man who didn’t care about Jesus because he didn’t think he’d sinned all that much. What about you? How bad is your record of sin?

If you say you haven’t sinned, you’re lying to yourself (see 1 John 1:8, 10). If you think your sin isn’t that bad (perhaps because you haven’t killed many people) you don’t understand sin (see Romans 6:23). Every single person on earth has sinned! We’ve all disobeyed God’s perfect, holy standard for living because we’re fundamentally self-centered beings who hate to submit to God’s authority. He made you and has absolute authority over your life. For that reason, all sin is violent rebellion against the God of the universe! All sin is treason against the King! All sin separates us from our Holy Creator Who is the source of life. All sin is vile and brings death upon us. All of it!!!

That’s what Jesus came to rescue you from. On the night before His death, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying that God’s cup of righteous wrath for your sins would pass from Him. But He submitted to God because you don’t always. On “Good Friday”, Jesus was nailed to a cross and experienced that wrath. He suffered and died so your sins could be forgiven – all of them – and you could be reconciled in peace and love to God in Heaven. Think about your sins that sent Jesus to that cross. Think about your forgiveness in Jesus Christ and rejoice! Love Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength! #FollowJesus

“I see him, but not now;
  I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
  and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
  and break down all the sons of Sheth.”
– Numbers 24:17

This ancient prophecy may well be what launched the wise men on their long journey to visit Jesus, the newborn King of the Jews. 1400 years earlier, as Israel marched toward the promised land, Balaam spoke of a powerful king coming in the far future. By the time Jesus was born, this prophecy had spread through much of the Ancient Near East and those who studied wisdom looked for a star that would indicate a mighty king’s arrival.

Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the magi asked Herod, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” That star led them hundreds of miles to the home of Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of this promise of God. God is faithful in keeping His promises, even when it takes 14 centuries to happen.

What promises of God are you counting on? What promises are you resting in? What promises are you excited about? God is faithful and He keeps His promises. Live in faithful anticipation of those promises. #FollowJesus

“Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.” – Numbers 22:31

The prophet Balaam certainly knew a lot of things. However, like most of us in the “Information Age”, his knowledge didn’t help him see the invisible spiritual realities surrounding him. As he went where he wasn’t supposed to go, his donkey recognized spiritual danger while Balaam remained completely blind. In frustration, Balaam lashed out at his donkey who repeatedly saved his life. Then God gave Balaam a glimpse of the real world.

In our everyday lives we generally don’t see angels and demons. In our foolishness, that often convinces us they aren’t real or present but they are. There is a spiritual reality underlying “everyday life” that we simply can’t see most of the time. All around us are the efforts, effects, and even battles of angels and demons. Efforts to protect and guide us. Efforts to derail and destroy us. And we don’t even see or even believe it. We’re blinder than Balaam!

If we could see this spiritual reality, it would radically change our spiritual lives! We’d understand, much more clearly, the vital importance and power available to us in prayer and take it much more seriously. We’d understand that our greatest battles aren’t against difficult people or situations but against spiritual powers. We’d recognize the spiritual threats against us and the spiritual resources available to us. We’d more richly dwell in God’s Word, God’s righteousness, and God’s gospel. We would take seriously the command to put on the full armor of God because we’d understand that every day is a spiritual battle.

How seriously do you take the spiritual reality Balaam got to see? Do you believe angels and demons are real and active in the world and in your life? The Bible is quite clear on this point regardless of what you believe! Take the spiritual realities of the world seriously, pray without ceasing, put on God’s full armor each day, and #FollowJesus!

“So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” – Numbers 21:9

When the people of Israel once again complained against God, accusing Him of evil motives, God sent venomous snakes to attack them. The snakes were an outward representation of the toxic venom that was already in their hearts. However, God also provided the remedy for their suffering – this unusual bronze serpent Moses was to make and set on top of a pole. Anyone who looked at the serpent was healed of the poison.

The Apostle John helps us fully understand the point of this strange event because Jesus connected it with His own life and mission. Jesus knew that every person on this earth has been bitten by sin. We’re all filled with sin’s poison and God sent Jesus to be our remedy for sin. Jesus did that by being lifted up on a cross. On the cross, Jesus carried our sins on his innocent shoulders and paid the penalty for them in full.

Everyone who looks to Jesus for salvation is forgiven their sins. In Christ, we are healed of sin’s spiritual venom and deadly effects. His work on the cross is more than just a one-time cure. He is always interceding on our behalf. Whenever we’re bitten anew by sin, all we must do is look to Jesus, confessing our sins and asking His forgiveness. He is faithful to forgive. #FollowJesus