The Difference Between Rejoicing and Weeping - Leviticus 14 and Matthew 26:51-75
It is hard to imagine the uncontained joy of a leper who had been cleansed, as he or she comes to the priest to present the proper sacrifices to the Lord. I am quite sure that it must have been one of the most joyful times of rejoicing in God's house. The leper was cleansed from physical suffering and no longer was required to be separated from family and friends. What a happy time of rejoicing! On the other hand, the grief of Peter in Matthew 26 is also hard to comprehend. The depth of his guilt from denying Christ three times would have caused indescribable pain on the inside and profuse weeping on the outside. As the Bible says, Peter could not remain around the other people. He had to go out and weep by himself. What a contrast!
What is in your heart today? Are you rejoicing from being cleansed, or are you weeping in your sin? The good news is that Jesus is the One who can cleanse you. His blood is so powerful. When it is applied to sin, it is completely washed away. However, we must come and present ourselves to Him in faith. We must come repenting from our sin and turning to Him as the only One who has the power to cleanse us. We must humbly submit to Him as Lord. Then, once we have come to rejoice in our cleansing, we will always want to live a life that is pleasing to Him, so we will be quick to confess our sins, so they do not disturb our relationship with Him. (I John 1:9) His desire is for us to live in the joy of being clean, not in the sorrow of bearing our own sin. I pray that you are rejoicing today, instead of weeping.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 15-16 and Matthew 27:1-26.
What is in your heart today? Are you rejoicing from being cleansed, or are you weeping in your sin? The good news is that Jesus is the One who can cleanse you. His blood is so powerful. When it is applied to sin, it is completely washed away. However, we must come and present ourselves to Him in faith. We must come repenting from our sin and turning to Him as the only One who has the power to cleanse us. We must humbly submit to Him as Lord. Then, once we have come to rejoice in our cleansing, we will always want to live a life that is pleasing to Him, so we will be quick to confess our sins, so they do not disturb our relationship with Him. (I John 1:9) His desire is for us to live in the joy of being clean, not in the sorrow of bearing our own sin. I pray that you are rejoicing today, instead of weeping.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 15-16 and Matthew 27:1-26.