Yet now, if You will forgive their sin–but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written. Exodus 32:32

War stories of soldiers who have put their lives on the line or even sacrificed their lives so that others may live are well known. These soldiers are considered heroes because they were willing to give up their lives so that others may live. Very few people are willing to do something like that because people love life and do not want to die.

After the Israelites sinned against God by making a golden calf and worshipping it, God was ready to destroy them. Moses pleaded with God to forgive their sin, but if He would not, Moses wanted to be removed from God’s book.

When someone does something that is seriously wrong and punishable, most people want to see justice done and the person punished. This desire for punishment is found even in people who were not affected by the wrong done. All they see is someone bad and punishment needing to occur.

Stepping alongside the one who did wrong and taking on that same punishment is rarely done. No one wants to pay a price for what someone else has done.

Yet, that is exactly what Jesus has done for each and every person. He was willing to be blotted out of God’s book and pay the price for sin so that everyone could live.

Believers need to have a heart of compassion for the lost that is so strong that they would rather miss heaven than see someone else be punished and sent to hell. This will strengthen them to do whatever it will take to be a witness to the lost, being willing to lay down their lives so that others may be saved.

There is some hero that laid down his or her life so that you may have some of the freedoms and life that you enjoy today. Jesus also put His life on the line so that you could live. All around you are people who are living in sin and are going to be punished someday. You have the message that they need to hear. Be willing to lay your life down to serve God and bring the gospel message to those people. Put your life on the line so that they may live.

Today, I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will give you a heart of compassion for the lost; that you will do what it takes to tell others about Jesus; and that your desire is that no one will be lost forever.

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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom

About the Author

Tom Arn is happily married for 30 years to his wonderful wife Cammie. They are blessed by God with eight wonderful children and one grandchild. Tom has worked as a children’s pastor, senior pastor, and many times (and currently) as a Sunday School Teacher. He has a General Ministries degree with a Bible College. He started doing a short devotional type Bible study on Facebook in 2014, going through the books of the Bible chapter by chapter, section by section. Tom writes what he feels God is placing on his heart.

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