"In [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood..."
Ephesians 1:7a
Fact: Blood cleanses a wound.
Fact: As the blood cleanses a wound it is preventing infection.
Fact: Too much blood loss causes death.
Fact: With blood there is life.
Now just a side note of discovery: Isn't it interesting God would mention that "out of the heart is the well-spring of life"?! For the heart is the "home" to the blood's circulation.
Now sit back and watch read:
A beautiful love story starts when God chooses Jesus to be our Redeemer. He chooses Him before the creation of this world (I Peter 1:20). But as you know, scores of circumstances need to occur before the "Prince" enters this story line. There needs to be a reason for a rescue. Therefore, there is a "villain" to give reason for a victory.
It all starts with Adam and Eve; and I've already painted that picture for you in a previous post named "Blessing #1 - Grace (part1)". But allow me to zoom in on their nakedness. The "villain", notoriously known as "Satan" or "serpent" in this text, enters when Eve walks by the "forbidden tree" (Genesis 3:1-6). He is the tempter, the seducer, the deceiver of mankind. When they eat of the "forbidden fruit" their eyes are opened to good and evil. Hence, their nakedness become known to them (Genesis 3:7). At this point God provides them "garments of skin" to cover their bodies, to cover their nakedness, to cover their sin (Genesis 3:21).
As you will notice, "skin" is covering them, which means that God had to shed some "blood"... slaughter an animal...to cover them.
Now for you animal lovers (and I'm one of them) don't freak out here, because God always has a purpose for everything He does. Sometimes His purpose is too big for us to comprehend...He is a big God...so stick with me and you will see a glimpse of the big picture.
Interestingly enough, years later beyond this scene in history Moses entered and God ordered the high priest of the Israelites to slaughter a clean, unblemished lamb (Leviticus 16, 17). The blood of this lamb was used to cover the sins of his people (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22). There was an incredible amount of ceremonial detail involved in this, and this occurred only once a year (Hebrews 10:1-4)
Now let's stop right here and ponder a bit. Think about it...imagine yourself an Israelite. The sin you've committed could be as small as a lie (ok...yeah whatever that means, right?), envying your neighbor (um...that's getting too close for comfort), or dishonoring your parents (speaking right to the adults here...yikes!); or it could be major like committing adultery, engaging in thievery, or worshiping an idol (which, really, is anything we place a higher priority over God) (Deuteronomy 5).
By the way, no sin is too small.
All sin is equal to another.
God is all Righteousness.
Therefore, sin is sin.
(I didn't make this up...you will find this truth in I John 5:17a).
Based on that keep imagining...the guilt of the sin you've committed is hanging on you like a lingering darkness ready to pounce and take you under. And you have to wait ONE YEAR to release it, to be "temporarily" forgiven for it. Not only that, but you are not even allowed to speak on behalf of yourself; a high priest does this. I don't know about you, but I would not be able to live with myself. The guilt would literally kill me!
Well, the Israelites desperately needed a Savior as you and I do. They cried out for one, as we might cry out desperately to be rescued, and God took compassion on them. But you see, only God knew what was coming (He knows the big picture...the big purpose). He is the Author of this extraordinary love story that we, too, live in (Hebrews 12:2) He knew these people needed to be "seasoned" for the coming Messiah. He created in them a desire, a desperation, a longing for a "Hero" to sweep them off their feet; to forgive them once for all!
Do you understand that God does this with us? He is so passionate about His people that He so often draws us nearer to Him; and it is at those times of desperation, our lowest and weakest hour, that we are able to hear the still small Voice...or as one translation words it "a gentle whisper"...in the stillness of the night calling out to us; lending His Almighty hand to rescue us from the darkness that we fall in (Read all of 1Kings 19 and you will find that Elijah experienced this...surely another compelling part of scripture to delve into and write about ;o).
Are you willing to listen when God calls you?
My dear friends, be amazed and aware of God's great compassion on us. His mercies are new every morning, because we, my dear ones, do not have to wait a YEAR to ask for them. He gives them freely and it is you and I that are able to ask for them, not a priest. But that explanation will come next week. Be ready and waiting!... and maybe share this with your friends ;o)
*This week's challenge is to read Psalm 103 and especially soak in verses 7 & 8 to be an encouragement to you.
Let me pray for you as you let all this settle into your soul: Our compassionate God, I praise You for Your mercies. I thank You for drawing Your people to You, for rescuing us from the "muck" that we live in. Now I ask that You will continue to "season" those that have not yet put their faith and trust in You. Cause their hearts to be drawn to You, so that when they realize that they need to be rescued by a Savior, by You, that they can call out to You and You will come. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
Now for you animal lovers (and I'm one of them) don't freak out here, because God always has a purpose for everything He does. Sometimes His purpose is too big for us to comprehend...He is a big God...so stick with me and you will see a glimpse of the big picture.
Interestingly enough, years later beyond this scene in history Moses entered and God ordered the high priest of the Israelites to slaughter a clean, unblemished lamb (Leviticus 16, 17). The blood of this lamb was used to cover the sins of his people (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22). There was an incredible amount of ceremonial detail involved in this, and this occurred only once a year (Hebrews 10:1-4)
Now let's stop right here and ponder a bit. Think about it...imagine yourself an Israelite. The sin you've committed could be as small as a lie (ok...yeah whatever that means, right?), envying your neighbor (um...that's getting too close for comfort), or dishonoring your parents (speaking right to the adults here...yikes!); or it could be major like committing adultery, engaging in thievery, or worshiping an idol (which, really, is anything we place a higher priority over God) (Deuteronomy 5).
By the way, no sin is too small.
All sin is equal to another.
God is all Righteousness.
Therefore, sin is sin.
(I didn't make this up...you will find this truth in I John 5:17a).
Based on that keep imagining...the guilt of the sin you've committed is hanging on you like a lingering darkness ready to pounce and take you under. And you have to wait ONE YEAR to release it, to be "temporarily" forgiven for it. Not only that, but you are not even allowed to speak on behalf of yourself; a high priest does this. I don't know about you, but I would not be able to live with myself. The guilt would literally kill me!
Well, the Israelites desperately needed a Savior as you and I do. They cried out for one, as we might cry out desperately to be rescued, and God took compassion on them. But you see, only God knew what was coming (He knows the big picture...the big purpose). He is the Author of this extraordinary love story that we, too, live in (Hebrews 12:2) He knew these people needed to be "seasoned" for the coming Messiah. He created in them a desire, a desperation, a longing for a "Hero" to sweep them off their feet; to forgive them once for all!
Do you understand that God does this with us? He is so passionate about His people that He so often draws us nearer to Him; and it is at those times of desperation, our lowest and weakest hour, that we are able to hear the still small Voice...or as one translation words it "a gentle whisper"...in the stillness of the night calling out to us; lending His Almighty hand to rescue us from the darkness that we fall in (Read all of 1Kings 19 and you will find that Elijah experienced this...surely another compelling part of scripture to delve into and write about ;o).
Are you willing to listen when God calls you?
My dear friends, be amazed and aware of God's great compassion on us. His mercies are new every morning, because we, my dear ones, do not have to wait a YEAR to ask for them. He gives them freely and it is you and I that are able to ask for them, not a priest. But that explanation will come next week. Be ready and waiting!... and maybe share this with your friends ;o)
*This week's challenge is to read Psalm 103 and especially soak in verses 7 & 8 to be an encouragement to you.
Let me pray for you as you let all this settle into your soul: Our compassionate God, I praise You for Your mercies. I thank You for drawing Your people to You, for rescuing us from the "muck" that we live in. Now I ask that You will continue to "season" those that have not yet put their faith and trust in You. Cause their hearts to be drawn to You, so that when they realize that they need to be rescued by a Savior, by You, that they can call out to You and You will come. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Enjoying My Kup...
Cindy
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