April 10

Leviticus 14 I have just started reading Volume 1 or The Works of John Newton. Newton wrote the words of the hymn Amazing Grace. Newton’s mother was apparently a believer. She had desired him to become a minister of the gospel. She died before he reached 7 years of age. His father remarried. Neither his father nor step-mother were believers; although, they were moral people. His father, a sea merchant, tried to direct him in learning the skills of being a sea merchant. He was left to his own spiritually. He vacillated between trying to be a Christian and living the immoral life of a sailor. The leprous infection of sin took hold of his life. At times he desired the integrity of a godly life, but he constantly fell back into dissipation. I have not yet reached reading of his conversion point, but I know that it eventually happened. The instruction for the cleansing of a healed leper is found in this chapter is such a picture of what happens when a sinner finds amazing grace. Only after 8 days of no leprous condition would the priest declare the leper cleansed. Then a series of sacrifices were made in order to declare the miraculous cleansing. The ex-leper was to present himself to the Lord via the priests. Then a ritual was performed which spoke of His cleansing. This ritual is a picture of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and His cleansing of our lives. Like Newton, we are unable to cleanse ourselves of the spiritual leprous infection of sin, but Jesus can. He delivers me from the habitual sin. What I cannot break, He can. He is the bondage breaker. That is the glory of my Jesus. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john