July 12, 2018 - PROPITIATION

Day 193 - (Today’s Bible readings: Numbers 16:1-23; Psalm 12; John 4:1-15)

“10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another... 19 We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:10,11,19 ESV)

Propitiation is not a word we use every day. However, it is a special word for followers of Christ. Propitiation is defined as atonement or atoning sacrifice; specifically, the influence or effects of the death of Christ in appeasing God’s justice.

True love, genuine love, and overwhelming love flow to all who repent and believe in Jesus and His cross. And because you and I have received this love, we now get to love one another. How clear God’s Word is: “We love because He first loved us.”

God loves me dearly, Grants me salvation, 
God loves me dearly, Loves even me.
Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly,  
God loves me dearly, Loves even me.
(“God Loves Me Dearly,” Lutheran Service Book, #392)

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being the propitiation for my sins and for the sins of the whole world. May Your great love for me motivate me to truly love others. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!