Today’s scripture: Hebrews 9:1-10 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (E’sha Cooper):
“This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings — external regulations applying until the time of the new order” (verses 9, 10).
What have you been told that works to get stains out of clothes, stains caused by things like oil, grease, wine, or blood? Vinegar, Dawn dish soap, peroxide, ammonia, or do you have a recipe that you’ve discovered online to tackle your toughest stains? What’s the most unorthodox remedy that you’ve heard of?
Well, I got one for you. If you want to get oil, grease, grime, dirt, set-in stains out, try using blood. I know you Martha Stewart types have just lost it, but I’m serious. Don’t apply it to your favorite shirt or your fancy table cloth; apply it to the fabric of your heart. Not just any blood, but Christ’s blood. Apply it to the stain of regret. Apply it to the spot left by alcohol or drugs. Apply it to any place where you just can’t seem to get victory. If you still have habits that you can’t break, cycles that keep you stuck, memories that paralyze your progress, apply the blood. The blood of Jesus is the only reagent that can and will permanently react with the fabric of your circumstances to remove blemishes and stains.
If you’ve ever gotten blood on anything that is white or light colored, then you know that it is almost impossible to get it out completely, especially if you don’t get to it real quick. The reason why is that when blood gets on fabric, dying occurs; or if you understand a little about chemistry, a chemical reaction takes place. Now the reaction with blood and let’s say cotton is a reaction that is almost irreversible. And with some other materials like linen or cashmere, the reaction is so progressive that there is no turning back. The blood and the material react together so thoroughly that trying to get it undone is impossible. So even after applying something like hydrogen peroxide to the stain, you may not have as dark a stain or as visible a stain, yet the stain is still there.
Brothers and sisters, we got stains (Romans 3:10). Our spiritual ancestors tried to deal with these stains by performing sacrifices, giving offerings, and performing rituals. However, as we see in today’s Bible reading, it didn’t work. They saw the stain get a little lighter because that had been faithful to tradition; yet afterwards when they got back to reality, the stains were still there. The further they got away from the memory of the sacrifice, the closer to the reality of how far they were from God appeared.
But thank God for Jesus! His blood permanently reacts with the blemishes of sin and circumstances. The reaction is 100% irreversible. Wherever you apply his blood, the blood will get so far down into the fabric of your life that not just you will see that there is a change or that you’re clean, but all those around you will see it. If you want to be clean, get washed in the blood. The blood works!
Prayer for the day: Precious Saviour, I have some noticeable and some not so noticeable stains in my life. I have tried lots of remedies, but to no avail. By faith, I apply the blood to my life and circumstances. I believe when I come out of the wash, I will be and look brand new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.