From: March 22, 2026
“The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him” (Numbers 35:21 ESV).
Moses instructed the people of Israel in the wilderness regarding God’s laws for justice, particularly in cases of murder and manslaughter. He commanded that the “avenger of blood” was authorized to carry out justice on behalf of the victim by putting the “murderer to death.” This avenger of blood was not a random vigilante but a “kinsman-redeemer” (Hebrew: “go’el“) responsible for upholding justice within the family. In this context, the “avenger of blood” (“go’el ha-dam“) carried out righteous judgment against intentional murder. Yet this same role extended beyond vengeance. In other passages, the go’el restored what was lost by redeeming land, freeing relatives from slavery, and as seen in the Book of Ruth, preserving a family line. Whether restoring or avenging, the go’el acted out of covenant loyalty to set things right. This reveals a deeper truth about God Himself, who later identified Himself as Israel’s Go’el in Isaiah (Isa. 49:26, 54:5) showing that He both saves and vindicates.
We often prefer a God who redeems but feel uncomfortable with a God who judges. Yet this passage reminds us that true covenant love requires both. Justice is not opposed to redemption. It is part of it. When wrong is left unaddressed, restoration is incomplete. As we reflect on this, we are challenged to trust God’s character more fully. He is not divided. He is perfectly righteous in both His mercy and His justice. In Christ, we see this tension resolved. Jesus is our Redeemer who saves us, yet He also bore the judgment we deserved. This calls us to live with both gratitude and reverence. We are invited to rest in His mercy while respecting His holiness. We are also called to reflect His heart by pursuing what is right and restoring what is broken.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You that You are both just and merciful. You do not ignore sin, yet You have made a way to redeem us through Your Son. Help us to trust Your character fully, even when we struggle to understand Your ways. Teach us to value both justice and restoration in our own lives. Shape our hearts to reflect Your covenant love in how we treat others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: March 22, 2025
‘And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him’ (Luke 5:13 ESV).
A man with leprosy fell on his face before Jesus saying, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.” And the Lord, who could’ve healed him from a distance, came near and touched the leper and said, “I am willing; be clean.” Jesus was not only willing to heal the leper, he was willing to touch him. The first action demonstrated Christ’s divine power, the second His divine love.
Certainly, we rejoice in Christ’s healing and cleansing power that is able to save us. Yet it is the fact that Jesus is willing to touch us, when we are leprous with sin, that moves us to even greater thankfulness and joy. He is not only Savior and Lord, but our dearest Friend!
This reminds me of an old song by Bill Gaither called “He Touched Me.”
“Shackled by a heavy burden,
‘Neath a load of guilt and shame.
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.
He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.”
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that You sent Jesus to touch us and to cleanse and make us whole! We worship Your holy name! Now, strengthen us to touch others in Jesus’ name, proclaiming the gospel and meeting needs. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.
From: March 22, 2024
“But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:15-16 ESV).
The more that crowds gathered around Jesus, the more often He would “withdraw” to pray. Jesus modeled an important rhythm between doing ministry work and personal rest and prayer. We recognize the need for food and rest for our physical bodies after exerting work, but we often overlook the need for our souls to be replenished. Do you ever withdraw to pray?
PRAYER: Dear Father, there is a fatigue that we feel that physical rest will not relieve. We need rest for our souls. We come to You for this rest. Forgive us for thinking we could find it elsewhere. For we know that this rest for our souls is only found in Your Son, Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.
From: March 22, 2023
“Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all” (Psalm 65:3 NLT).
When we confess Jesus as Lord and believe in our hearts that he died for sins, was buried and raised from the dead, we are saved. In that very moment, we have been saved from sin’s penalty (justification), we are being saved from sin’s power (sanctification), and we will be saved from sin’s presence (glorification).
So, when we receive Christ’s payment for our sins, how many of our sins are forgiven? Past ones? Present? What about tomorrow? The answer: In Christ, God forgives “them all.” For this, the apostle Paul exulted, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your provision for our sins in Christ. He is the perfect atonement, covering all our sin, so that we are made holy in your sight. We are no longer slaves to sin, but we are your servants of righteousness. We praise you for your love and mercy. In Jesus’ name, amen.