Main Verse: Exodus 21-23

Good morning!

The regulations the Lord laid for the people were to help them live in a community without fights or, “Secrets”, epidemics, and/or disruptions. You see it is not just the Lord we interface with, it is people both those who walk with the Lord and those who don’t. You see when we break these laws, we create problems in our lives and that of the community we live in; When we create “Problems” or problems are created for us, fights break out and might shed innocent blood (Deuteronomy 19:10). Because “stuff happens”, there was a requirement for the offender to offer an animal sacrifice as well as make things right with the person or people we hurt. Why was the Lord so concerned about problems between people? Because it not only creates a rift between us and someone else but also creates a rift between us and the Lord. The animal or whatever we give to the person we offended will never replace the broken item but that’s where forgiveness enters the scene.

Jesus’ sacrifice corrected our relationship with God but if we do not make things right with the people we hurt, it will always be a thorn or a trace of bitterness that will crop up when we least expect it. The Lord’s will is that we are free not only from the fear of facing God on judgment day but a clean conscience with those who surround us. Coming clean with the people we hurt is not easy and it will cause problems that we did not expect just like having to replace our neighbor’s animal that was killed by mitigating circumstances while we were taking care of it.   My encouragement for you today is that when you hurt someone, on purpose or not, is that you will make things right even if it will potentially separate you from that person permanently. Jesus’ sacrifice may not appear to be much nor will it replace the physical items but in our hearts, we will have peace.

I.H.S.

MK

Father,

Thank you for Jesus’ sacrifice for my sins. The world today as it was in the time of the Patriarchs is a dark and bitter place for that reason, help me to be a light and fresh breath of air (Psalm 120). Please help me to forgive those who hurt me and to make things right with the people in my community. Please help me today to let go of the wounds that have crowded my heart so that I will be at peace. All things belong to you Father including the items that have been taken from me (Deuteronomy 10:14-17). Not everybody will see life as I do and they may never forgive me but to those, I confess the problems I have caused and leave the issue between you and them. I pray for those today who need a special touch from you or are facing extreme medical issues. In Jesus’ N