An offering of sacrifice to the Lord “must be without defect pr blemish to be acceptable” (Leviticus 22:21). In Mark 15:15,
we have the great statement concerning the sinless Son of God taking
the sinner’s place – “Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus
flogged and handed Him over to be crucified.” “Praise be to the Lord,
for He showed His wonderful love to me when I was in a beseiged city” (Psalm 31:21).
The Cross was, for Jesus, a beseiged city. When He cried out to God,
it was like the prayer of the Psalmist – “In my alarm I said, ‘I am cut
off from Your sight!’” God answered the Psalmist’s prayer – “Yet You
heard my cry for mercy when I called to You for help” (Psalm 31:22).
God answered Jesus’ prayer when He raised Him from the dead. To those
who believe in the crucified and risen Christ, God says, “Be strong and
take heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24).
There is to be prayer from “every one who lives in the land” (Joel 1:14). It is to be personal prayer - “O Lord, I cry to You for help!” (Joel 1:19). These two belong together - prayer for the nation and personal prayer. This is expressed so well in the words: “O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee. Send a revival. Start the work in me.” We hear the words, “Return to the Lord, your God” (Joel 2:13). They are followed by some wonderful words about the character of God - “He is merciful and compassionate, patient and always ready to forgive and to change His plans about disaster” (Joel 2:13). How do we know that God is like this? We look at what He has done for us - “Be glad and rejoice. The Lord has done great things!” (Joel 2:21). Looking at all that the Lord has done for us, we trust His promise: “Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32). This salvation is more than forgiveness for past sins. It’s more than the future glory of being in God’s ev...
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