Today's readings are Leviticus 26.21-33 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Lev.+26.21-33 ), Leviticus 26.39-44 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Lev.+26.39-44 ), Luke 14.1-24 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Luke+14.1-24 ), and Numbers 1.1-2.34 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Num.+1.1-2.34 ).
In Leviticus we have been reading about the curses God will pour out on people who forsake his teaching. He has promised to pour out hunger, death of our families, and finally our own death. We gain defilement, disgrace, dishonor, and deep pain for all our attempts to go our own ways. And this is what each of us earns. This is what we all deserve and more, because God has not treated us as our sins have deserved. He repeatedly calls us to repentance and we reject him again and again.
Look now at Leviticus 26 starting at verse 40. Though it is impossible for our repentance to be adequate, for our contrition to be deep enough, if we repent of our sin and turn from our ways, the Lord will run to us and bring us healing and plenty. Not only will he do that, but he reminds us that he has not really left us in our sin and straying. He was there all along.
In this last day, our God has shown his mercy through Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God with us. He has been there all along and has never deserted us but in these last days has revealed himself to us through the person of our savior, whose job is to draw all men to himself in repentance and faith, as they would not turn themselves. As Jesus is drawing us, let us repent of our sin, desire obedience, and rejoice in his great provision for us not only in this world but in the eternal life yet to come.
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