13th November 2026

A Lamb and Two Goats

"But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat

shall be presented alive before the Lord,

to make atonement upon it,

and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness. "

Leviticus 16:10

Reading: Leviticus 16:7–10, 20–22.

We all know what it means to blame someone else when things go wrong. When a mistake has been made or consequences need to be faced, our instinct is often to point the finger: “It was his fault. It was her fault. If only they had done something differently.” We would rather have someone else bear the blame than bear it ourselves.

The Bible calls this a scapegoat. And surprisingly, the idea comes from the Bible itself. But in God's plan, the scapegoat is not about avoiding responsibility or unfairly shifting blame. It is about mercy. It is about God taking our guilt and placing it upon another so that we might be forgiven.

On the Day of Atonement, the sins of God's people were placed upon a goat, and that goat was sent away into the wilderness, carrying their guilt with it. Centuries later, another Substitute entered the wilderness. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, stood in the place of sinners. He faced the devil's temptations where Adam had failed. He obeyed where Israel had rebelled. And He would ultimately carry our sins all the way to the cross (Leviticus 16:21).

The astonishing good news is this: God has provided a scapegoat for you. His name is Jesus. He has taken your guilt, your sin, and your shame upon Himself. He has borne it all in your place, so that you might stand before God forgiven and righteous.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for bearing my sins and setting me free. I pray, in Your name. Amen.

12th November 2026

A Horrible Place

"And these will go away into everlasting punishment,

but the righteous into eternal life."

Matthew 25:46

Reading: Luke 16:19–31.

The passage before us, is among the most solemn in all the Scriptures. In Luke 16, the Lord Jesus tells of a rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. Both died, but their eternal destinies were very different. Lazarus was carried to Abraham's bosom (for the Jews, a picture of Heaven), while the rich man found himself in torment in hell (v 23). This is one of the Lord's parables—or, as some understand it, a true account of two men and their eternal destinies. Either way, the message is unmistakably clear: Hell is a dreadful reality.

The rich man was conscious, could see, hear, feel, and remember. He cried, "I am tormented in this flame" (v 24). There was no escape and no second opportunity. The Lord Jesus spoke more about Hell than anyone else in Scripture, and we must take His warnings seriously. Why, then, do people reject the truth about Hell?

First: Rationalism:- Human reason is placed above God's revealed Word. People say, "I will only believe what I can understand." But God's truth does not depend upon our acceptance. “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom 3:4). The rich man's unbelief did not make Hell less real.

Second: Ridicule:- Some mock the doctrine of Hell, treating it as outdated or foolish. But there is nothing humorous about eternal judgement. The rich man was not laughing in Hell; he was pleading for mercy (V 24).

Third:  Religion:- Others trust in good works, religious ceremonies, or personal morality. But religion cannot save. Jesus said, "He who believes on the Son has everlasting life" (John 3:35). Salvation is found in Christ alone.

Fourth: Redeemer:- Here is our hope! God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save sinners. At Calvary, He bore the punishment we deserved. He died, was buried, and rose again in victory. Hell is real, but so is God's mercy. The only refuge from judgement is the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is the Redeemer of sinners.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me; help me to faithfully warn others. In Your name. Amen.

11th November 2026

The Fight Was His

(Conclusion, Mini Series on "the Red Sea")

"The LORD will fight for you,

and you shall hold your peace."

Exodus 14:14

Reading: Romans 6:1-11.

Notice who did the fighting at the Red Sea. Israel drew no sword and fired no arrow. They only walked where God had opened the way. The LORD fought for them, alone — and "the LORD won."

Where did the LORD fight for us? Not at the Red Sea, but at the cross. "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (v 3-4).

There the waters of God's judgement did not part for the Lord Jesus. They closed over His head. The sinless Son of God went under — not for any sin of His own, but willingly, carrying ours — and on the third day He came up out of those waters alive, on the far shore of death itself. That is why there is dry ground for anyone at all who trusts Him: the sea broke on Him.

"And you shall hold your peace." Salvation is not a joint venture between God and us. Our part is to stop justifying ourselves, stop bargaining, stop trying to part the sea by our own goodness — and to trust the One who fought alone and won. And He gives what He won: peace with God, the judgement behind us, and a new life on the far shore.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You fought alone and won. Teach me to stop defending myself, and to rest in what You have done. In Your name, I ask. Amen.