Life for Life
Jesus said He came to give abundant and eternal life to all who would believe in Him and make Him Lord of their life.
“Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death. Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution—life for life. Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury.”
Leviticus 24:1-2, 4, 17-20
There was a law set in place that has stood the test of time in terms of balancing justice in the world. An eye for an eye, a life for a life. What is the meaning? It means that the punishment should fit the crime and the crime will require a punishment. God is a God of justice and order.
Jesus gave clarity to the human understanding about God's justice by clarifying the importance of living with a free heart. He does not diminish the justice of an eye for an eye but gave a divine interpretation of how to live freely. He spoke of loving one's enemies and not paying back people what they deserve. We should thank God that we do not get what we deserve based on the sins we have done and considered doing. How does justice play a role in your life? Do you feel like anyone owes you an apology or there is an injustice that has been done to you? How has the mindset of an eye for an eye influenced your heart.
“Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.”
Psalms 114:7-8
David sings of recognizing God's power, presence, and provision. Remembering these will help shape our perspectives so that we can have peace in our hearts knowing that God is the source of life. He is the One who gave us life and continues to give us life. How have you praised God today for His power, presence, and provision? How would that help bring more peace to your life?
“From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward....“In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.”
Proverbs 12:3, 14-16, 20, 22, 28
Wisdom says there is a right way to live our lives. Don't we all need meaning that comes through hard work and hope that we are on the right path? How easy is it for the fruit of our lips to be poisonous fruit that harm others and the work of our hands to be for the wrong purposes?
How would you evaluate the fruit of your lips and the work of your hands? Are they bringing life or bringing death to you and others?
“Flee! Run for your lives; become like a bush in the desert. Since you trust in your deeds and riches, you too will be taken captive...We have heard of Moab’s pride— how great is her arrogance!...I know her insolence but it is futile,” declares the Lord, “and her boasts accomplish nothing...Terror and pit and snare await you, you people of Moab,” declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 48:6-7, 10, 29-30, 42-43
Our lives on this planet are finite. The prophet Jeremiah says to run for your life will end in death if you run the wrong race. It is amazing how many people live as though there will never be a day of accountability. Would we not live differently if we lived with the end in mind?
How would not wanting to go to a place of terror or the pit of hell help us to avoid the sin that can entangle our lives. Have you thought about life after death? What do you think heaven is like? What is hell like? How is the afterlife impacting your present life?
“And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today...Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?...About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me...I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
Acts 26:6-10, 13-20, 22-23, 28-29
Paul speaks of new life. The resurrected life. Life after death. Jesus overcame death and in the same way so can we. The truth is that the resurrection Paul speaks of is for both the present and the future.
In the present, Paul demonstrated that today we have the ability to help share the good news of Jesus Christ and the new life that can be found in Him. He committed his life to tell others about how Jesus changed his life. How has Jesus changed your life? How are you sharing your story?
In the future, we have a promise of eternal life. We can live free of fear today knowing that our tomorrow is secure. How does that change how we live? How has Jesus giving His life for our life changed everything? It allows us to live Holy Spirit led, empowered lives where we are free to walk by faith and stand on the firm foundation of the promises of God. How will you live out your resurrected life today knowing the promises you have been given about your tomorrow?