Blood drive

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“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20

Yesterday at our church the American Red Cross was set up to take blood donations throughout the day. This blood would be used to save lives. It’s a process that has been done for many years and there is no doubt that it has helped many people.

The blood of Jesus was given willingly to save lives. It flowed from his body which hung on the cross after being brutalized. Hours before, Jesus offered the cup to his disciples to whom he said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” It is clear that the blood of Jesus had the power to clean our sins away. Do not allow the world to confuse you in this fact, but stand strong in the victory.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for the great sacrifice you made for me. I cannot imagine all that you went through for me. You are my all in all. Amen

Faith Tip: With Jesus, you are clean. Believe that today and live it out.

Cry over sin

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As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Luke 19:41-44

In the Luke account of Jesus entering Jerusalem, he shows that Jesus paused before entering to weep over the city. His heart is broken because his people will not obey him and would rather follow their own desires. We, like the people in biblical times, seem to need disastrous occurrences before we take notice of what God is telling us.

Knowing that we break God’s heart alone should make us stop and turn around, but it doesn’t, does it? It takes us being uncomfortable in some way to begin seeking and searching for the answer. The answer is always Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the heart that you have for me and all your people. I pray that I don’t take that for granted and care about what is on your heart. Amen

Faith Tip: Do you have a challenge today? See how Jesus is the answer and follow him.

Remember

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Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth” (Genesis 9:16).

Visuals are a great help in remembering things. I put my pills out on the counter that I need to take before bed, I write a list of things that need to be done each day, and an empty dog dish reminds me it’s time to feed Charlie. We use calendars, blackberries, and iPods to help us remember important dates and times. What if we only had our memory to count on to remember everything—scary thought.

While God placed a rainbow in the clouds to remember his covenant with us, I doubt very much that God needed the symbol to remember. God doesn’t forget a thing. It’s hard to imagine having all the details from the beginning to the end, but he does. I think the rainbow is more for us to remember his covenant. It reminds us of his love, faithfulness and constant grace in our lives. Another symbol to remember God’s love is the cross. Jesus suffered and died to save us. He didn’t have to, but chose to do so. What greater love is there?

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your love and care each day. I pray that I remember the symbols of your love throughout the year. Amen

Faith tip: What are the symbols of God’s love for you? Thank him for them.

Only one way

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And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared:

   “You are a priest forever,
   in the order of Melchizedek.”

The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:15-19)

Mary looked longingly at the new car her neighbor just purchased. She wondered how she did it. She works part time, but is that enough for her and her husband to afford a new car? Mary thought of her own car in comparison and knew hers was less. How great it must feel to get behind the wheel of a new car, she thought. She sighed and went back to her work.

Coveting is one of those commandments we are not to do. Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of breaking one of the laws or another. That is why in Hebrews it says that the law was weak and useless, because it did not make us perfect. The law does show us how imperfect we are and how much we need our high priest, Jesus, to make us perfect. It was by his death on the cross that we are made holy. There is no other way. We live a better hope because of Jesus drawing us closer to God. That’s something to praise about today!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the laws of Moses you have established to show us how we should live. Forgive us for the times we fall short. Thank you for the grace and mercy you give us through Jesus. Amen

Faith Tip: Reflect on the true gift of the cross. Hold a cross in your hand or draw a cross and meditate on its meaning.

Grace, not works

And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:6)

If you work hard, you will succeed. This is a message that our society believes in and acts on. While I know it is an ideal that is promising, it is not 100% guaranteed. If my husband works hard in his garden, he should have a bounty to harvest. This is not always true. Other factors such as ground conditions and weather play a role.

That’s why I am so glad that we don’t have to work for our salvation. If we had to depend on what we did to be saved, many of us would fall short. Jesus did it all. It is by grace we are saved and it is 100% guaranteed.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for paying for my sin on the cross. The price was so high. This is a great demonstration of your love for me. I pray that I will embrace the grace I have received and be a reflection of it. Amen

Faith tip: Find ways to show grace to others today.