BLOOD

1 Peter 1:18-19 New Living Translation

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”

BLOOD defined: “a reddish fluid in vertebrates that is pumped by the heart through the arteries and veins, supplies tissues with nutrients, oxygen and removes waste products. It consists of a plasma containing erythrocytes, leucocytes, and platelets.”

       Without blood we could not exist. Without the blood of Christ we could not exist as well. It is a different type of existence by comparison, but each blood is equally important. When God created us he put blood in our veins to sustain our lives. In the OT His required the blood of an animal with no defect to receive forgiveness for their sins. This was necessary each year. When Christ came to earth to put into play God’s plan of salvation for sinful man, it was His perfect blood that was required to completely remove our sin once for all time.

       Blood plays such a big part in our lives. The presence of blood can save lives, the absence of it can take lives. Christ’s blood purchased something we could never pay for ourselves, our freedom from sin.  God’s forgiveness is available to all for a price.  That price is blood.  We aren’t pure and sinless, only Christ was and is.  Without the spilling of Christ’s blood there is NO forgiveness for sin. No other blood will do. No other blood has that power.  

       Do you understand the power that is in the blood?  Have you been washed under the fount that flows from the heart of God?  Being good isn’t nearly enough, for there is no worldly system of rules or standards that defines what is good enough according to God.  He determines what is good and right and fair and just, not man.  Allow Christ to cleanse you, then live for Him by faith in the power of the holy spirit.  It’s the only way to spend eternity with the Lord.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:  The Life Application Study Bible; Published by Tyndale House. Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers.

TRUST THE LORD

Jeremiah 32:17 New Living Translation

“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!”

       The Old Testament is filled with testimony of the goodness of God.  That which may have seemed impossible was made possible by God’s mighty hand.  Moses had trouble believing that he and his people would escape Egypt, even after God spoke to him from a burning bush. But he trusted God.  David had doubts that he would become king over Israel even after he was anointed, but he trusted God. It wasn’t easy for Jeremiah, who was in prison at the time(v.8), to believe that buying land from his cousin Hanamel (Jeremiah 32:6-16) would represent the restoration of Israel before Babylonia even overran them and took them away into exile. 

       Israel had done great evil in the sight of Lord and His fury was about to be released against them.  God reveals to the prophet Jeremiah their capture and their restoration, but Jeremiah had his doubts.  Is there a promise from God that you are having difficulty believing will take place?  Do you have doubts about His wisdom, wondering if it is practical to obey Him?  Reflect back on what you already know about Him.  Go over in your mind what the Lord has done in your life and in the lives of those you know and love.  God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  His love never fails, however His way of achieving things may be very much different than we anticipate.  We must trust Him to do that which will benefit us the most and bring Him the most glory. 

       It is interesting to me that in Jeremiah’s prayer to God he says: “Nothing is too hard for you!”  Now glance over at verse 27 of the same chapter is see what the Lord says to the prophet in reply: “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?”  This is an acknowledgment that there is indeed nothing that is too hard or impossible for the Lord to accomplish for us.  What God does He does for His own glory, but also for the benefit of His children.  If you are one of His children, bought with the blood of Christ and forgiven of all your sins, then you can count on the fact that whatever promise you are waiting to take place will take place exactly when it needs to.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource:  The Life Application Study Bible; published by Tyndale House.

A PROMISE FROM GOD

Psalm 91:14-16 New Living Translation

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.  I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.  I will rescue and honor them.  I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”           

       This Psalm was sung during Temple Services on the Sabbath.  Its author is unknown.  It speaks to the notion that followers of God should be thankful and faithful each day, not just when things are going well. When the Creator of the universe says words of this nature, it is the equivalent to a promise. Therefore, since it comes from Almighty God, we can count on it.

       When we love someone we seek to please them. So it stands to reason that if we love our Heavenly Father, we are going to strive to live for Him to the best of our God given abilities. As a result, He is going to move heaven and earth to make sure we are safe and secure. We should take great comfort in that and in what is said in the verses above. It doesn’t mean calamity won’t come our way, it means that if we are living for God He will protect us. God uses very specific action words to describe how he will take care of us. Words like rescue, protect, call on and deliver. No matter what situation we may find ourselves in, God is there and will do as He has promised.

       To acknowledge is to recognize the authority or status of something or someone. If we acknowledge God for all that He truly is, than we will have the appropriate respect towards Him and His statutes. We will learn all we can about Him through His word and will live according to the instructions He has laid out for us. God loves us with an everlasting love that is unconditional and will never change or diminish over time. Love of this kind cannot be found anywhere else this side of heaven. No matter what we’ve ever done in our lives we need to understand and accept that we are not defined by our mistakes. God loves us for who we are, not who we ought to be. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources: (1) The Life Application Study Bible; Published by Tyndale House, (2) The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language; Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

PRAISE HIM

Psalm 138:1-2  New Living Translation

“I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.”

       You will notice that in much of scripture, especially the Psalms, begin with praise and thanksgiving to God.  He is worthy of such praise simply because of who He is.  Who God is is found in the various names assigned to Him. (See below for a list) God’s unfailing love for His creation is also well documented throughout the Bible. He loved us enough to send His own Son to die in our place.  The phrase “before the gods” more than likely refers to all the false pagan gods that were embraced by the other surrounding nations. 

       Having a grateful heart towards God should be an important part of our daily life.  When we pray, we should start off with praise for who He is.  Refer to Him by some of the names listed below.  Acknowledge His worthiness.  Thank Him for the air you breath and the health he provides you.  Even those who are in distress either due to circumstances or some physical malady have much to praise God for.  If you count the blessings you have in your life instead of the problems you will understand what I mean.

       The promises of God are for everyone and are backed up by His wonderful and powerful name. There is nothing in heaven or on earth that compares to our God. He created everything that exists and has command and control over it all.  The “Prince of the Power of the Air” (Satan) brings about calamity and destruction.  God is not the author of evil, but since He has allowed mankind a free will to choose whom they will serve, those who choose to do ungodly deeds will wreak havoc on their fellow man.  One day The Lord of Hosts will return with the armies of heaven to obliterate all evil avenging the godly. So praise the Lord for His goodness, love, mercy and grace and know that He is Lord over all.  His purposes are pure and good and right and just.  Regardless of the way things appear, God knows what He’s doing and shall line things up according to His perfect will in due time.  Our purpose as followers of Christ is to love Him, trust Him, obey His word and serve Him for the sake of those who are unsaved.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; Publisher: Tyndale House.

THE NAMES OF GOD

Jehovah Jireh: “The Lord will provide.” Stresses God’s provision for His people.

Jehovah Nissi (knee-see’):“The Lord is my Banner.” Stresses that God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the one who fights for His people.

Jehovah Shalom (sha-lom’ … short ‘a’, long ‘o’ sounds):“The Lord is Peace.” Points to the Lord as the means of our peace and rest.

Jehovah Sabbaoth (sa’bay-oth … short ‘a’, long ‘a’ and short ‘o’ sounds):“The Lord of Hosts.” A military figure portraying the Lord as the commander of the armies of heaven.

Jehovah Maccaddeshcem (ya-ho-vah’ m'ka-dish’): “The Lord your Sanctifier.” Portrays the Lord as our means of sanctification or as the one who sets believers apart for His purposes.

Jehovah Ro’I (row-ee’): “The Lord my Shepherd.” Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture.

Jehovah Tsidkenu (tsids’canoe): “The Lord our Righteousness.” Portrays the Lord as the means of our righteousness.

Jehovah Shammah (sha-ma’): “The Lord is there.” Portrays the Lord’s personal presence in the millennial kingdom.

Jehovah Elohim Israel (l-o-heem’): “The Lord, the God of Israel.” Identifies Yahweh as the God of Israel in contrast to the false gods of the nations.

Source:  Taken from www.bible.org/article/names-god.