Time with Jesus - Monday, 14 May
2012
Hi all,
Today’s meditation is all
about the blood of Jesus. Never mind the high priced detergents on the market.
They may work for clothes. But they can never provide deep cleansing of the
soul from sin. Furthermore, only Jesus’ blood can cleanse our conscience. Derek
Prince called the Blood of Jesus “God’s Atomic Bomb”. Just one drop is sufficient
to cleanse humanity from sin. That’s deep cleansing as it should be.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
|
Time with Jesus – Monday, 14 May 2012
|
||
|
INTRODUCTION
|
DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
|
THE BLOOD OF JESUS
|
|
Ever
since my teens I’ve like motor cars. I’m no aficionado but I like the things.
I’m tempted to say I love them. But I don’t love cars the way I love God and
love my wife. But I like big expensive luxury cars. I would love to have a
top of the range BMW or Mercedes. A Rolls Royce is somewhere near the very
top of my mental fantasies. Of course, I’m not likely to own one. But it
would be a great “nice to have”. It’s one of those juvenile fantasies. Like
marrying Miss World. Penny Coellen back in my early days. Not surprising
really. In my mind she remains one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever
seen. Another popular fantasy among school boys back then was to marry
Princess Anne. It was not so much being married to her as the associated
notoriety and recognition. But England was 6000 miles away, so it was the
sort of pipedream and was not taken seriously.
Fairly
recently I read a story about a man who wanted a Rolls/Royce. Eventually he
got one. It was a fairly old model but was just what he wanted. A couple of
months later he sold it. There was nothing wrong with the car. But he was inundated
by begging letters and people wanting to “touch him” for money.
There
are other wonderful possessions which most of us want in life. A home of our
own, children, a good education, friends, relations and good financial
prospects. We all have this in common. The difficulty with all this “stuff”
is that it is all temporary. In a few short years we will have left it for
others to enjoy. I’m reminded that a shroud has no pockets.
There
is nothing wrong with having possessions. Proverbs tells us: A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's
children, but the sinner's wealth is laid
up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22 ESV The
real issue is what we do with our possessions. We are going to leave them
behind. I know the story of a man who said, “Lord, If I can’t take it with me
I don’t want to go.” But we will all go. There is something that is of greater
value than everything in this world combined. It’s something you cannot buy.
However, it will cost you everything; it’s the blood of Jesus Christ.
You
cannot buy it. You cannot steal it. God by His grace provides it as a free
gift. But although there is no capital outlay, it will cost you everything.
All your possessions, all your friends and family; that’s the price. The
blood of Jesus is not cheap. It only takes one tiny drop to cleanse us of all
unrighteousness. But it’s never been cheap. It’s the cost of the life of God.
He shed His blood for me. He thought I was worth it!
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
|
11 They overcame him because the Lamb gave
his life's blood for them. They overcame him by giving witness about
Jesus to others. They were willing to risk their lives, even if it led to
death.
Revelation 12:11 NIrV
33 And who would dare tangle with God by
messing with one of God's chosen? 34 Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died
for us--who was raised to life for us!--is in the presence of God at
this very moment sticking up for us.
Romans 8:33-34 MSG
11 "'The life of each creature is in its blood. So I have given you
the blood of animals to pay for your sin on the altar. Blood is life. That is why blood pays for your sin.
Leviticus 17:11 NIrV
12 "That same night I will pass through Egypt. I will strike down
every oldest son. I will also kill all of the male animals that were born
first to their mothers. And I will judge all of the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 "The blood on your houses will be a sign for you. When I
see the blood, I will pass over you. No deadly plague will touch you
when I strike Egypt.
Exodus 12:12-13 NIrV
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 ESV
13 Just then one of the Elders addressed me: "Who
are these dressed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14
Taken aback, I said, "O Sir, I have no idea--but you must know."
Then he told me, "These are those who come
from the great tribulation, and they've washed their robes, scrubbed them
clean in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:13-14 MSG
5 and from Jesus Christ--Loyal Witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler
of all earthly kings. Glory and strength to
Christ, who loves us, who blood-washed our sins from our lives, 6
Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father,
forever--and yes, he's on his way!
Revelation 1:5-6 MSG
|
How to
defeat the devil? God’s Word makes it quite clear.
There are three simple methods which
draw the victory near.
The one is
testifying about what Christ has done.
Telling people they will win through
Jesus God’s own Son.
The next
is being willing to give your life away.
“Everything for Jesus” is what we hear
men say.
But
there’s another factor without which you and me,
Could never be forgiven and couldn’t
be set free.
The fact
is, there’s a penalty that always must be paid.
If anyone commits a sin; if God is
disobeyed,
The person
who committed it must be condemned to die.
The price remains mandatory and to all
it must apply.
This can
only happen when the blood of life is shed.
When the blood has drained away, the
victim will be dead.
That’s the
way God made us; life cannot carry on;
If all the blood within us has drained
away and gone.
Put into
simple language, in order to forgive,
A sacrifice must shed its blood so
that a man might live.
The
concept isn’t popular. Not in this day and time.
Our people are too squeamish and baulk
at all the grime,
They think
of in an abattoir; “It must be sanitised”!
But monsters of iniquity can never be
disguised.
Perhaps I
do not like it. But I’m not in control.
The One Who really matters and Whom we
all extol,
Insists
the blood of life is shed to pay for what we’ve done.
And since it is essential, His One and
Only Son
Became the
very sacrifice. He shed His blood for mine.
To pay for our redemption; for His
blood is divine.
Which
means it pays for all the sins of me and you and you
And you and you and you and you; no
other blood will do!
If you say
that it isn’t fair, my friend, you’ve got it right.
Absolutely undeserved in anybody’s
sight.
But this
is His decision. We are not asked to vote.
So each and every one of us are in the
selfsame boat.
Of course
you can refuse it. You don’t have to agree.
But then you pay the price yourself
for all eternity.
I think we
should accept it. Thank God we’re not condemned.
Thank You Lord that by Your blood, our
sentence You amend.
Forgiven,
cleansed and pardoned. It’s too good to be true.
But that is what the blood of Christ
has done for me and you.
He became
the sacrifice. The price He paid was high.
He had to go to hell and back; to shed
His blood and die.
We cannot
point a finger. Our pardon is complete.
There’s no way we can add to it; For
it’s designed to meet,
The
standards God demanded and each of us must pay.
But Jesus paid the price in full on
Calvary that day.
Jim Strickland – Written 14th
May 2012
|
