Value is not in the material it’s made of, but what it represents.”
–Cliff Hudgins (Viejo and the Hunted Ranger)
“Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.”
–Proverbs 10:2 (NIV)
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“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'”
–Matthew 26:17-28 (NKJV) “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
–1 Corinthians 11:25-26 (NKJV)
I was helping my granddaughter work on a presentation she was to give and in doing so I decided I wanted to read the book she was studying. To my shame, as I read the first chapter I became convicted; that chapter was about the blood of Christ. I am convinced that we do little real thinking or contemplation on the Blood. It is something of real value, but we spend little time, except perhaps during communion, to regard its purpose and value. Blood is a gruesome sight, some can’t handle the sight of it, but it is the Blood that cleanses and disposes of our sins. “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” (Robert Lowry).
To look at this awesome topic–the Blood, I am going to borrow from Watchman Nee’s book, “The Normal Christian Life.” The first thought that I am taking regarding the Blood is that it is primarily for God. “The Blood is for atonement and has to do first with our standing before God.” (Nee) God does not overlook our sin, but they are forgiven because He sees the Blood. Think of the Tabernacle: the sin offering was made publicly in the courtyard. However, on the Day of Atonement, the blood of that offering was taken by the high priest into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16). Now, who is our high priest? (see Hebrews) In the Old Testament, he was a type of Christ who offered His blood for our redemption. Even earlier in Exodus, at the first Passover, God declares, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Exodus 12:13)
Let me use the words of Watchman Nee to show the value of the Blood. “It is God’s holiness, God’s righteousness, which demands that a sinless life should be given for man. There is life in the Blood, and that Blood has to be poured out for me, for my sins. God is the One who requires it to be so…. The Blood of Christ wholly satisfies God… If God is satisfied with the Blood, then the Blood must be acceptable. Our valuation of it is only according to His valuation–neither more nor less.” God accepted the precious blood of Jesus to be our propitiation for our sins.
The second value of the Blood is manward. We are able to enter the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19), which cleanses our conscience. Our conscience is now clean, and we are now the “temple”, and “Whether you have a good day or a bad day, whether you have consciously sinned or not, your basis of approach is always the same–the Blood of Christ.” (Nee) Paul writes, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13, NKJV)
Finally, we see that the Blood is Satanward. Satan is the accuser and the Blood puts God on man’s side. “The Blood removes the barrier [between God and man] and restores man to God and God to man. Man is in favor now and because God is on his side he can face Satan without fear.” (Nee) I think of the words of the song by Andrae Crouch:
“It soothes my doubts and calms my fears
And it dries all my tears,
The blood that gives me strength
From day to day
It will never lose its power.”
Satan has no appeal against the Blood. The writer of Hebrews declares, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (9:14, NKJV) It is therefore vital we trust in the Blood. When Satan comes at you in whatever form, we know that he can do nothing for God has accepted the sacrifice, our redemption by the blood of Christ. Peter writes, “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition for your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19, NKJV) Take hold and understand the value of the Blood–“Would you be free from the burden of sin? There’s power in the blood…”. (L.E. Jones)
Try this for a week or two for your devotions. Read and contemplate each day on a hymn about the blood. See if it doesn’t change your view, humble you, enrich your soul and give insight to your mind.
————————————-
“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'”
–Matthew 26:17-28 (NKJV) “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
–1 Corinthians 11:25-26 (NKJV)
I was helping my granddaughter work on a presentation she was to give and in doing so I decided I wanted to read the book she was studying. To my shame, as I read the first chapter I became convicted; that chapter was about the blood of Christ. I am convinced that we do little real thinking or contemplation on the Blood. It is something of real value, but we spend little time, except perhaps during communion, to regard its purpose and value. Blood is a gruesome sight, some can’t handle the sight of it, but it is the Blood that cleanses and disposes of our sins. “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” (Robert Lowry).
To look at this awesome topic–the Blood, I am going to borrow from Watchman Nee’s book, “The Normal Christian Life.” The first thought that I am taking regarding the Blood is that it is primarily for God. “The Blood is for atonement and has to do first with our standing before God.” (Nee) God does not overlook our sin, but they are forgiven because He sees the Blood. Think of the Tabernacle: the sin offering was made publicly in the courtyard. However, on the Day of Atonement, the blood of that offering was taken by the high priest into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16). Now, who is our high priest? (see Hebrews) In the Old Testament, he was a type of Christ who offered His blood for our redemption. Even earlier in Exodus, at the first Passover, God declares, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Exodus 12:13)
Let me use the words of Watchman Nee to show the value of the Blood. “It is God’s holiness, God’s righteousness, which demands that a sinless life should be given for man. There is life in the Blood, and that Blood has to be poured out for me, for my sins. God is the One who requires it to be so…. The Blood of Christ wholly satisfies God… If God is satisfied with the Blood, then the Blood must be acceptable. Our valuation of it is only according to His valuation–neither more nor less.” God accepted the precious blood of Jesus to be our propitiation for our sins.
The second value of the Blood is manward. We are able to enter the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19), which cleanses our conscience. Our conscience is now clean, and we are now the “temple”, and “Whether you have a good day or a bad day, whether you have consciously sinned or not, your basis of approach is always the same–the Blood of Christ.” (Nee) Paul writes, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13, NKJV)
Finally, we see that the Blood is Satanward. Satan is the accuser and the Blood puts God on man’s side. “The Blood removes the barrier [between God and man] and restores man to God and God to man. Man is in favor now and because God is on his side he can face Satan without fear.” (Nee) I think of the words of the song by Andrae Crouch:
“It soothes my doubts and calms my fears
And it dries all my tears,
The blood that gives me strength
From day to day
It will never lose its power.”
Satan has no appeal against the Blood. The writer of Hebrews declares, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (9:14, NKJV) It is therefore vital we trust in the Blood. When Satan comes at you in whatever form, we know that he can do nothing for God has accepted the sacrifice, our redemption by the blood of Christ. Peter writes, “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition for your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19, NKJV) Take hold and understand the value of the Blood–“Would you be free from the burden of sin? There’s power in the blood…”. (L.E. Jones)
Try this for a week or two for your devotions. Read and contemplate each day on a hymn about the blood. See if it doesn’t change your view, humble you, enrich your soul and give insight to your mind.