Friday Edition is here! Here are those readings you asked for: Exodus 29, John 8, Proverbs 5, Galatians 4.

Can we talk? Why did Jesus die for us? Why did He die for me – for you? Why? Did Jesus die for me so that I could mess with the same old sins that have never brought me anything but guilt, shame, and destruction? In John 8, Jesus brings His amazing forgiveness to a woman who everyone else wants to stone to death because they caught her in the sin of adultery. Jesus tell the mob to begin the proceedings with the person who has no sin. Suddenly, the schedule is changed – the woman is forgiven and not killed. Jesus ends the proceeding by telling this woman that she is forgiven and to “Go now and leave your life of sin.” This is how we deal with sin. Jesus forgives it and we leave it – simple. Both parts of this are important and cannot be ignored. Jesus forgives us – not so that we return to our mess – but to really live. This is not some scheme that makes me brag about being perfect. Only Jesus is perfect. I am a sinner who has been saved from the fires of hell by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. Jesus did that to bring me a new life – one where I walk out on sin. This is a life where I strive to ditch sin because it is worthless and utter crap! That’s right – sin is less than crap! What has it ever gotten you? NOTHING! What has Jesus given to you? EVERYTHING! That is some powerful math! Everything – or nothing? Hmmmmm…

Welcome to the work week – get to reading: Exodus 18, Luke 21, Job 36, and 2 Corinthians 6!

Check out 2 Cor. 6:14-18 about not being yoked together with unbelievers. What is the deal with that – tough passage. Does it mean that we should have nothing to do with those who do not believe? Most of the time this is applied to marriage. So believers should not marry unbelievers. Is that the deal? The word for yoked has the image of oxen being linked together to plow a field for something like that. I suppose you could apply that to marriage, just don’t compare her with oxen – ok guys! Not a safe move – unless you don’t want her to call back and your insurance is paid up. Back to the text. Could this text be about the mission we are on in life. We are called to live as the light of the World as Gods forgiven people. So if I throw my entire lot in life in with someone who wants nothing to do with Jesus or life in Him – hows that gonna work out? Do the math. Any answers?