“But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:11-14 CSB
Within this portion of scripture, we can start to get a glimpse of the power of the blood of Christ, which covers us. The author highlights to us how the blood and ashes of animals can sanctify and purify the flesh, which is already quite powerful when you stop and think about it. So he then magnifies how the blood of Christ will do even more in comparison.
The blood of Jesus not only cleanses our flesh but can cleanse our consciences and grant us eternal salvation. Let us note what the author is trying to fixate our faith on; the fact that the Blood can “cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God”. This point, my brother and sister, is the essential point I want you to focus on today. We are free from condemnation and the wrath of God due to the sin we all have in our lives. There is no longer a requirement to do pointless works, such as religious rituals, but now we can serve the living God. We now live to do His will and not ours. When you serve someone, you are at their beck and call to do for them what is required to fulfil their plans. Our service is the ultimate goal of the Blood of Christ. We are now free to serve God.
Today, reflect on your life. Do you live your life to serve God, or are you serving your earthly and flesh desires? The teachings of Jesus are obvious as to how we should live. Our lives should demonstrate self-sacrificial love, and a desire to serve other people, and as Jesus cleaned his disciples’ feet, we should be looking to wash others’ feet. We are to help the broken-hearted of society, to go to those who are needy and lost. To not build an earthly kingdom but to focus on building treasures in heaven. Do not fall into the trap that much of the modern church has fallen. Just like the early Christians, we are to lay down our lives for God’s purpose, which is to spread to Gospel of Good News and for Jesus to be glorified as the rightful King of Kings.
