Day 114-Atonement Insights

Matthew 21:28-32

28¶But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go ^awork to day in my vineyard.

29He answered and said, ^aI will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and ^awent ^bnot.

31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

32For John came unto you in the way of ^arighteousness, and ye^bbelieved him not: but the ^cpublicans and the harlots believed him: ^dand ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

The repentant is in a better position than the one who says he is going to do the will of the Lord and does it not. We can learn from this parable that the publicans and harlots may go into the kingdom of God before than the self-rightowous religious leader who practice to be seen by men. The priest, harlot, publican, and all need to turn to Chirst and live through obedience.

Day 90-Atonement Insights

The Parable of The Creditor and the Two Debtors

Luke 7:41-43

The parable teaches the relationship between love, forgiveness, and service. Pharisee Simon was having Jesus over for dinner, and the sinner woman barged in need of forgiveness. She immediately washed Jesus's feet, which was a sign of hospatality. She was forgiven through her actions. Repentance isn't only through word, but also through our actions. Simon was scandalized that Jesus, a rabbi, would allow a sinful woman to touch Him. According to Pharisaical law, her touch made him unclean. Simon was a bit self-righteous, judged on outward appearances, and never offered to wash the feet of Jesus. Jesus was able to teach Simon and the woman about to those who love less, less is forgiven.

Day 89-Atonement Insights

Matthew 13:33¶Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto ^aleaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

As I was preparing bread this morning, I was thinking about this parable. It is amazing what yeast does and expands a small amount of dough to three times the size. The leavening reminded me of when we exercise our faith that we can be enlarged depending on our faith. Also, I am amazed of the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ and how it has spread to almost every nation, kindred, and tongue. The growth started with a young farm boy who had an enormous amount of faith who restored God's Kingdom on Earth.

Day 88-Atonement Insights

The parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-15) relates to how we receive the word of God. First, people who don't understand the word and throw it to the wayside (Luke 8:5). Second, people hear the word and don't allow to take root (Luke 8:6 stony places). Third, people hear the word but are distracted by the cares of the world (Luke 8:7 thorny places). Fourth, people hear the word, have faith, and do works of righteousness. (Luke 8:8 fertile ground). Most people probably have experienced a few of these obstacles with receiving the word of God. The amazing miracle is we can apply the atonement and repent if we fall in the first three categories, and we can eventually experience the fourth of sowing the seed on fertile ground. We can receive the word and produce works of rightousness according to our faith and talents.

Day 87-Atonement Insights

Matthew 9:17Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

I was thinking how this parable related to the atonement. It may relate to change and repentance. I thought of the quotes form Albert Einstein, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." If we want to change, we need to try new things and the old bottles may break and produce harmful results if we haven't completely accepted the new. When we accept the new, we repent and come unto Christ and are cleansed from our sins. We are preserved and renewed in Him. If we are still leaning towards our old ways but haven't completely accepted the new, the new and old may clash and the bottle can possible break. The new wine may represent Christ's Atonement and the bottle may represent us.