Pay The Toll. Save The Scroll.

Wes Schaeffer
November 18, 2019

From today’s reading…

Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant,

and whoever observed the law,

was condemned to death by royal decree.”

Today, in 1 Maccabees, we read about the death and destruction brought about by “a sinful offshoot” who became king.

By his decrees and example, he emboldened “men who were breakers of the law” throughout Israel.

These once-faithful Jews

…covered over the mark of their circumcision

and abandoned the holy covenant;

they allied themselves with the Gentiles

and sold themselves to wrongdoing.”

Even more “sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath,” as they built pagan altars throughout Judah.

But even that wasn’t enough.

They then began to destroy the Word of God and all who held onto it and lived by His commandments. Fortunately,

…many in Israel were determined

and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean;

they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food

or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.

Terrible affliction was upon Israel.”

You have been created and called to stand firm against the “sinful offshoots” in power today.

You have been created and called to stand firm against the “breakers of the law.”

You have been created and called to stand firm against terrible afflictions.

You have been created and called to show the world your unwavering belief.

You have been created and called to…

Stay the course. Keep the faith. Endure.