The Precious Blood of Christ
Welcome to 2022! It’s time for a new start, a new beginning. As we launch into this new year, the Lord has laid it on my heart to talk to you about the only thing that can really give anyone a new beginning—the precious blood of Christ. As the scripture says:
For you know that you were not redeemed from your vain way of life inherited from your fathers with perishable things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1Peter 1:18-19, MEV)
Oh, how precious is that blood! I remember when I turned from my old way of life and said “Yes” to the Lord in 1977, He spoke these words to me: “Precious is the blood of the lamb, which was shed for you.” To me, the blood is personal. It’s not just a Bible doctrine. It means that God loves me. He was willing to give His Son as a sacrifice for me.
Regardless of how much good you do or how much bad you do, the only way to find entrance into the presence of God is through the precious blood of Christ.
I recently had an experience that reinforced that truth in my heart. In January, I had surgery on my back for a persistent problem that I have been having for several years. Of course, it required that I go under anesthesia. Now, they have this down to a science, and it’s relatively safe, but when you are about to go under, there’s the thought that “I might not wake up from this.”
The interesting thing was how I prayed at that moment. It was not a fearful prayer but an honest heart-to-heart, man-to-God prayer. I did not talk to the Lord about all that I had done well in my life or my accomplishments. In fact, I talked to him about what I had done wrong and the mistakes that I had made. Then I claimed the power of the blood of Jesus and thanked God, and rejoiced for His forgiveness. I am confident that I will be received into heaven when I die, not because of what I did but because of what Jesus did.
Ultimately, we all just need forgiveness. It doesn’t matter how many mission trips you have taken, how many people you have led to the Lord or the things you have done or not done. What matters is that His blood was shed for you!
It’s like the old song they sang for the invitation at the Billy Graham crusades:
Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee
Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Jesus taught us about this truth in His story of two men who went to the temple to pray:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed these things about himself, ”˜God, I thank You that I am not like other men: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I tithe of all that I earn.’ “But the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but struck his chest, saying, ”˜God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14, MEV)
The tax collector was justified, not by what he did right, but rather because he admitted what he had done wrong. This is the essence of justification. I am forgiven because of God’s mercy.
Sometimes, we struggle and struggle to be good enough for God. Don’t get me wrong. We should earnestly strive to live a clean life and to do all the good we can. But at the same time, we must realize that without faith in the blood, we cannot live a life pleasing to God. But because of the blood, we have access to a whole new way of life, which includes the power to live a holy life.
Maybe you’ve been struggling in your faith. You’ve been up and down and all around. I encourage you to put all your trust in Jesus. Believe in the shed blood of Calvary and not your own good works. This is God’s love! This is God’s mercy and grace! Receive it now by faith, in Jesus’ name!
Dear Father, thank you for the blood of Jesus! I believe He died for me and rose again. I confess today that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and by the power of your Holy Spirit, I will follow Him. Amen.
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