Online Devotions: blood of Jesus

Showing posts with label blood of Jesus. Show all posts

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Best News Ever

September 16 (1 John 2:1-2)

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. (NLT)

You will not read anything better today than these two verses. Absolutely nothing. Take them apart bit by bit and see what I mean. First, the Bible gives us guidance so that we will not sin. This itself is pretty good news, because no matter how smart we think we are, we are not always going to get things right. Proverbs 14:12 makes clear what our own experience has proven time and again. We may think something is right, but in the end we are proven wrong, often disastrously so.

Yet even when we know right from wrong, we will still sin, and when that happens, all is not ruined. We have someone who will plead our case with God, and that someone is Jesus. Now, Jesus is not going to say, “Father, cut her some slack. She was just having a bad day.” He won’t say, “Don’t count this sin against him, Father. His own family acted that way, and he didn’t have any good role models.” No, Jesus will go before His Father and ours and say, “This one is one of mine. This one had a perfect lamb to cover all sins with its blood, and I was that lamb.”

The other day I was reading those verses and could not take my eyes off those words. Just sit with them for a few moments. Don’t read anything else for a moment and let the incomprehensible, monumental, reality-changing truth of the gospel of Jesus wash over you and penetrate deep into your heart and soul and mind. This is the essence of the Christian faith, my friends, and there is nothing…nothing…even remotely like it.

O God, when I read the words of Your promise to forgive my sins and when I think of the blood of Jesus that made that possible, my heart is so filled with radiant love from You and for You that I can think of nothing else. My face can do nothing but smile, and my mouth can do nothing but declare Your praise. May the glorious light of my transformed and transforming life point others to You. In the name of Jesus, my Savior, I pray. Amen.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Bad, Mad, or God

August 19 (Matthew 26:28)

For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

It has long been noted by philosophers and theologians that there are only three possibilities when it comes to Jesus. He was either bad, mad, or God. In other words, He either knowingly lied in the statements He made, was utterly insane, or was in fact God. After taking only a quick glance at the many loving acts He performed, most people readily dismiss the claim that He was bad.

But was He insane? Imagine what would happen if you or I sat with friends at dinner, poured wine for everyone, and then said, “Oh, by the way, the wine you are drinking is my blood. I am going to give it up as a sacrifice to cover people’s sins.” Someone would start calling 911 under the table.

Yet we know that the words He spoke at the last meal He shared with His friends on earth were true. Shortly after He would be arrested and executed. His blood would indeed be poured forth, and when He returned alive to those same friends and many others, He confirmed what He had been saying all along. Instead of being the raving of a madman, the words of this verse are perhaps the most beautiful and powerful of any ever spoken, for they state boldly and succinctly the gift of life that Jesus offers to all, a gift that could only be offered by God.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of life in Jesus Christ! There are no words to express adequately my gratitude and awe. Your death and life have made my life possible. And since words are insufficient, may my actions serve instead, as I seek always to do only what You call me to do. In the name of Jesus, my risen Lord, amen.

Sunday, October 29, 2017

The Joy of Forgiveness

October 29 (Romans 4:7-8)

“Oh, what joy for those

whose disobedience is forgiven,

whose sins are put out of sight.

Yes, what joy for those

whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” (NLT)

Do you get that you are supposed to die? Do you get it that all of the nice things you do for people do not amount to squat? Friends, in the eyes of God, you and I deserve to die, and we don’t even have the right to be offended by that. God does. He created us to be the crowning glory of all His creations, but WE turned on HIM. If anyone has a right to be angry at the state of human affairs, it is God. That realization should put us in a pretty humble position.

But oh, what joy for those whose disobedience has been forgiven! What joy for those whose sins have been put out of sight! Do you also realize that the blood of Jesus has washed you so thoroughly of your sins and disobedience that God Himself does not see them anymore? He looks at you and sees the glorious creature He intended.

King David originally wrote those words in Psalm 32:1-2, but Paul quoted them in his letter to the Romans. David had some sense of God’s forgiveness, but after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, we have a greater understanding of the work of God’s grace. Friends, take some time to let that sink in. You deserve to die and be eternally separated from God, but that will not happen thanks to the work of Jesus Christ.

Lord, what a gracious and amazing gift You have given us! Thank You for the blood of Jesus and what it brings, for the words of Scripture and Your servants that have taught me of Your forgiveness, and for the grace that has allowed me to accept it so that the Holy Spirit might dwell within me. All praise and glory be to You, my Lord and my God! Amen.