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So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as are as Sodom. --Genesis 13:11-12 There is a huge difference between first-hand and second-hand faith. You don’t have to read far between the lines of today’s text to see that difference illustrated in the lives of Abraham and his nephew Lot. Second-hand faith is a life that is lived on the coat-tails of someone else’s faith.  And it’s dangerous because it’s not really faith at all. That was the problem between Abraham and Lot. Lot had inherited many blessings by being in Abraham’s family, and there is no doubt that Abraham was an incredible spiritual example and mentor to Lot. But all of that didn’t add up to a godly lifestyle for Lot, a fact that we see in Genesis 13. Lot greedily chose the best land for himself when given the chance, and happily moved right on in to Sodom. Hanging out with Abraham had made Lot successful and wealthy, but it didn’t make him wise and godly. Although the Bible says Lot was a just man, he ended up making a very bad decision that eventually cost him dearly. Lot’s second-hand faith caused him first-hand trouble! Which “hand” describes your faith? Never let you faith become a “second-hand” faith.

At the Mercy Seat

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”

1 John 2:1–3

The main duty of the high priest on the Day of Atonement in the Old Testament was to take the blood of the sacrifice and sprinkle it on the mercy seat—a thick covering of gold on top of the Ark of the Covenant. Only the high priest was allowed to go behind the curtain into the Holy of Holies, and that only happened once a year. Placing the blood on the mercy seat symbolized faith in the coming sacrifice of the Messiah as a permanent covering for sin rather than a temporary one. The mercy seat was the ultimate symbol of God’s forgiveness and grace.

The phrase the propitiation in 1 John 2 comes from the same Greek word also translated mercy seat. Jesus shed His blood for our sins and became our sacrifice. The sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross had to be accepted by God, and it was. Isaiah 53:11 prophesied, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”

When we feel that we are not worthy of God’s salvation, we’re right! We do not receive salvation by merit, but by grace through faith. The price has been paid, the blood has been shed, and, when we call upon Christ for salvation, the sacrifice is applied to our account. It is settled forever, because of what happened at the great Mercy Seat, Jesus Christ.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Jesus is both the sacrifice for our sins, and the sign that the sacrifice has been accepted and we are forgiven forever.

PS. Maligayang Araw ng Pagkabuhay sa inyong lahat =)