Power in the Blood

Today's Reading:

• Exodus 29:1 - 30:10
• Proverbs 8:14 - 26

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Exodus 29:1 - 30:10
Today I read about the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests.  It was quite an intricate process and involved seven days of sacrifices and rituals.  The thing I found most interesting was how they were commanded to splash their garments with blood and oil so that they would be notably holy garments.  To think of all the work that went into making those lavish, detailed garments; only to have blood and oil thrown on them immediately after they are put on.

I guess to me I'm trained to think of blood as being a dirty thing.  It stains clothes, not embellishes them.  But I am realizing more and more that there is pure power in blood.  It was the blood of Jesus Christ that cleansed us all. 

I know that for years I have spoke of "the blood of Jesus" and I have sung the hymns -- but truly there is power in the blood.  The Lord requires blood sacrifice for our sins and nothing less.  It's just amazing how I can talk of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for as long as I can remember but not grasp the significance of the blood. 

I know that it was because he was the only truly sinless man to ever walk the earth that the rest of us are cleansed through him.  But the phrase "the power of the blood of Jesus Christ" is finally truly become clearly to me.

Proverbs 8:14 - 26
I have read a lot about Wisdom so far in the Proverbs, but today's passages are quite astounding.  I notice that Wisdom is often referred to as a female entity.  These verses say that Wisdom was there in the beginning with the Lord and that Wisdom was created before anything else.  Before the earth, before the dirt, before the waters, before the heavens -- before anything else on earth. 

We are told that Wisdom holds the key to success and wealth and noble rulers.  It seems like every person should covet to become wise.  The bible says that Wisdom is out of no one's reach because all who search for it will surely find it.  I guess I really should make an effort to seek out Wisdom myself.  Well I think I'm starting in a great place for that!  Where better to look for Wisdom but in the Word of God who formed her for us to seek.

Conclusion
There have been many times in my life that I have tried to read the bible, always starting in Genesis and moving forward.  Then I'd reach all the ceremony and atonement instructions and the detailed descendants lists and I'd just lose interest. 

It truly helps that I am reading both the Old Testament and the New Testament at the same time, because I think I have more patience when reading through parts of the Old Testament like I am in now.  To think that before I skimmed through this relatively uninterested.  Even today I thought that I wouldn't have much to write about.  But it's these passages in the Old Testament that have managed to get through the very important concept of the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.  Who would have thought?  I surely didn't!

The Betrayal of Jesus Christ

Today's Reading:

• Matthew 26:14 - 46
• Psalm 31:19 - 24

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Matthew 26:14 - 46
The reading starts today with Judas asking the priests how much they would pay him to betray Jesus.  The reply was 30 pieces of silver, such a sad sum for betraying our Lord.

Next we read about the passover.  Here Jesus told the disciples that one of them will betray him, and that it would be better if that man had never been born (23:24).  Each of the disciples asked if would be them, but when Judas asked, Jesus affirmed it would be him. 

I wonder what took place after that?  How incredulous would everyone be when Jesus told Judas it would be him that betrayed him?  Did they force Judas to leave the passover meal?  Did he just sit there, eating, as if nothing had happened? 

Jesus said it would be better if that man had never been born -- what punishment is Judas suffering, probably even to this very day?  Maybe the rest of the gospels will shed more light.  The reading ends as Jesus is about to be betrayed. 

Psalm 31:19 - 24
Here we are told to put our trust into the Lord, for those who trust in the Lord are sheltered and protected by them.  Even when it seems that all is lost, when it seems that Lord has forgotten you, He has not.  Trust the Lord, love the Lord, obey the Lord -- and He will be with you always.

Bearing Guilt of an Entire Nation of People

Today's Reading:
• Exodus 28:1 - 43
• Proverbs 8:12 - 13

Exodus 28:1 - 43
Today I read about the priestly clothing of Aaron and that of his sons.  My study bible has a drawing of what the clothing probably looked like.  It all sounds very intricate and very beautiful. 

I thought it was interesting how Aaron was charged with wearing a medallion on his turban so that he always carried the guilt of his people around with him.  I have a hard enough time carrying my own guilt, I could imagine carrying the guilt of an additional 600,000 men plus women and children.  And then there is Christ who carried the guilt of all who lived with him and since his body died on the cross.  What a tremendous burden to bear!

Proverbs 8:12 - 13
Wisdom says that she lives together with good judgement and knows where to find knowledge and discernment.  (8:12).  The next verse goes on to say that all who fear the Lord will hate evil -- pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.  Apparently it's not enough to just avoid those things yourself -- being in the presence of it should upset you. 

Where does the line fall between hating that which is wrong and forgiveness and walking in love?  I know that I work really hard not to hate others and I try to ignore their actions in hopes that one day they will come around.  I try really hard not to judge others.  Of course I fail greatly, but I do try. 

I'm supposed to hate the things the Lord hates, but hate is a very strong word and it's something that I try really really hard not to do.  I don't know what to think right this moment.  I will just have to read more and self-examine myself on this topic.

Notes (this section written on 3/18/12)
I have fallen behind in managing my blog right now due to sickness and laziness, I guess.  As I have mentioned a few times now, I stay ahead on my blog posts, so a post is written anywhere from a few weeks to a month or more before it is actually published. 

Well right now I am dangerously low on my posts -- only 10 on hand as I write this.  I said a prayer before starting today that the Lord would banish the sickness that has taken over my spirit so that His will be done and shine through me again. 

It has been an entire week since I have sat down to do a study, and right now that feels like ages have gone by.  My studies, because they are so frequent, really feel intimate -- and I like the intimate relationship with God.  But right now it's been an entire week, I've been sick, I've been lazy -- and all that needs to go.  Now.  I have said my prayers and am sitting down once again in my studies.  When you read this, even if it is a month from now, please say a little prayer for me so that I can keep up with my studies and maintain the intimate relationship I am trying to create.  Thank you.

Is Salvation Enough, or Do We Also Need Good Works?; Letting the Lord Shine Through

Today's Reading:

• Matthew 25:31 - 26:13
• Psalm 31:9 - 18

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Matthew 25:31 - 26:13
Jesus told the story of the sheep and the goats.  He says that when he returns the people will gather together like sheep and goats.  Jesus will act as a shepherd and separate the two, seating the sheep on the right and the goats on the left. 

The sheep were the ones that fed the hungry, helped those in sickness, visited those in prison, and welcomed strangers into their homes.  Jesus says that those who do those things for his brothers and sisters are doing those things for Jesus himself. 

The goats were the ones who did not do those things.  The sheep were to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and the goats were sentenced to be cast into the eternal fire.

The thing I take away from this is that we must both be saved and do good works to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  I do not believe that there is any way that our good works can save us without the blood of Jesus.

What I think is that those who are saved are truly transformed and as a result they begin to live their lives differently.  With the love of Jesus in our hearts, how can we not have compassion for others?  How can we not help those in need?  How can we walk past a person who needs help and just ignore them? 

Jesus is in us and he truly transforms us and the way we interpret the world.  That feeling swallows us when we are first called to be saved but it doesn't always last.  We need to constantly evaluate ourselves to determine if we are letting Jesus shine through us, or are we shutting Him back -- little by little -- until He disappears from us entirely? 

Psalm 31:9 - 18
This is a continuation of David's plea to the Lord to protect him.  I found verse 8:10 to be particularly interesting:

I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness.  Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within.

Here we are told that not only does sin create a chasm between us and the Lord, it zaps our livelihood.  It shortness our lives.  It creates sadness.  On this earth, in this life, we will know constant sorrow, grief, pain, anger, and be wronged.  That is a condition of the sin of mankind. 

But we can control what we do to our own bodies.  We don't have to further add to our own sorrows by continuing to sin.  Of course we are going to sin, we are painfully human.  But we can control ourselves and try to live righteously.  We can control what we do onto ourselves.

The Quality of Being Wise

Today’s Reading:
• Proverbs 7:24 - 27
  
• Proverbs 8:1 - 11
  

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Proverbs 7:24 - 8:11

wis·dom/ˈwizdəm/

Noun:

The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of such experience, knowledge, and good judgment

Once again in Proverbs we are told of the importance of having Wisdom.  Simple people can still show good judgement, foolish people need to show understanding.  There is nothing devious or malicious when Wisdom speaks.  Wisdom comes from a place of understanding and application of life's experiences.

Wisdom is more valuable than rubies (8:11).  When I think of Wisdom I think of listening to our elders.  So often we think that we know more than they do, when in fact it is ourselves who are deceived and foolish. 

Every life experience; everything you learn; all that you learn from your own mistakes and from the mistakes of those around you; all those things help you to gain Wisdom.  Proverbs speaks very strongly of the importance of Wisdom.  I'm only on the 8th Proverb and already I have seen this spoken over and over again. 

So I will take heed and try to take in all the Wisdom I can and share it out.  I will try to make good decisions based on this Wisdom and I will try to be understanding of others as they gain Wisdom of their own.  All of this is easier said than done but I will take the teachings to heart.