Thoughts for another day

Sept. 13, 2013.

Today's verse: Heb. 9:13, 14. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Sometimes I wonder: Is there any way one can measure the extent of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us.  Is there any way to measure the love God has for us, which is why in the first place Jesus came to save us.  Will we ever be able to thank Him enough for having saved us from the wrath that was to have otherwise fallen upon us?  I know it’s impossible for us to get close to a even hair’s breadth in our understanding of God’s plan for us, His most pleasant creation.  You know in our own eyes too, we don’t find ourselves worthy and we’re not, to have God do such a wonderful work for us.  And it’s such a great work.

In the Old Testament period, atonement of sins was by shedding the blood of bulls and goats; and purification was by ritually sprinkling water in which the ashes of an heifer were mingled.  But it never was a sacrifice that annulled sin completely the way the Blood of the Precious Savior did.  The author’s (of this letter) question in our Scripture states: how much more potent is the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God.  Yea, Paul isn’t really asking a question but making a statement that defines the power of the Blood of the Son of God, blemishless as He was, and shed in obedience to the Father’s will; how much more power, nay, infinite power it has to cleanse our conscience from dead works and accord ourselves to God’s service.

On this day, when Jews around the world are set to observe Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, we must remember how the Precious Lamb of God, shed His glory for us and died a shameful death taking our place on the cross; and seek atonement for our sins while rejoicing in the fact that we’re heirs to salvation, not by shedding blood of bulls and goats and what have you, but by accepting in faith, the shed blood of Christ, which was shed once and for all for the total remission of sins of the entire human race.  Look at the beauty and compassion of our God, who has done it for us, because He loved us.