August 17

Posted on Aug 17, 2023

“There are two things I like that Islam teaches,” I told a group of upset young Muslims. Upset because I had told them about some Muslims I knew who had found true peace in Christ. “Islam teaches that God is God the Just, and God the Merciful. But when you stand before Him at last, will He be just or merciful?” “Both,” they responded. “That’s a quick answer, but it can’t be right. Justice means God receives full payment for every sin you have committed. Mercy means He has found a way not to charge you. Both can’t be true.” They chased their tails for a while until I interjected with the story of Abraham and his son at Moriah. I told of the ram, and explained the idea of a substitute. That is how God can be both “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom 3:26). But a ram is not a fair trade for a man. Only a righteous man could be a substitute for a sinful man. And only a God-sized Man could pay for billions of sinful people. Christ is the only answer.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 8-10 Memorize: Acts 16:30-31