Cleansing

Americans, in general, are never satisfied.  We have a tendency to seek the newest, the biggest, the fastest,… the best.  Marketers understand that this notion is ingrained in our minds, and they use it to their full advantage.  For example, consider the promises prominently stated in cleaning product commercials.  “You’re not fully clean until you’re Zestfully clean.”  “Tide’s in – Dirt’s out.”  “You’ll want our product, giving up yours.”  “Setting a shining example throughout the area.”  “The Ultimate Shine.”  Never mind that the cleaning products we already have work just fine.  (Honestly, our particular vulnerability for buying the newest cleaning products is probably more revealing about our lack of desire to put in the necessary effort.)

Spiritually, we also crave the same benefits for our life.  Fortunately, God planned and provided the best cleansing for our soul through his son, Jesus Christ.

The world recently celebrated Easter, observing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I wonder how many looked beyond the commercialized trappings of the day and caught the significance of the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood?

God provided Jesus as an atoning sacrifice, removing our sins.  Jesus Christ is God’s son and a sinless, unblemished lamb.  He is a gift from a merciful God.  Jesus is a once-in-a-lifetime, once-is-enough, perfect offering, so that we can obtain eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-14).  We have been “justified by his blood” (Romans 5:9).

Don’t you know, Peter states, “It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19).  John tells us, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin” (1 John 1:7).

There’s no need to look further.  God has the answer you seek.  Jesus Christ offers the ultimate cleansing.  In God’s eyes, through the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood, you are spotless and pure.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, please accept our thanks for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.  As you promised, we believe Jesus’ blood has the power to cleanse us, completely removing the stain of our sins.  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Carl Smith
Stephenville, Texas

In the Storm

In the sixth chapter of Mark, we see an amazing story. Jesus fed 5000 men with five loaves and two fish. After this miracle, He sent His disciples across the sea and went up on a mountain to pray.

A storm came and the disciples were struggling. Verse 48 says He saw them struggle, but did nothing. The disciples bailed and rowed for hours. Then Jesus went out on the sea but His intention was to pass them by. Only after they saw Him, did He rescue them.

This story is hard. Not because they were in a storm, but because Jesus knew about it and left them in it.

From the disciples’ point of view, there was nothing worse than a storm. And the proper response from God must be rescue. We are reminded of another storm when they said, “Do you not care if we perish?” From Jesus’ point of view, the storm was not all that important. What was important was the faith or lack of faith His disciples possessed. They had been in storms before. They were with Jesus when He stopped a storm. They had seen Him in the very act of creation when He fed the multitudes. They should have grown in faith and not been afraid.

Storms are for testing. They reveal where we put our confidence. If it is in our strength of rowing, we will surely be afraid.

If it is in Jesus, we will have faith.

Dear Heavenly Father, in my head I know you love me and always take care of me, but sometimes when the storms get rough, I forget. I know you love me but sometimes I forget. I know you have all power but sometimes I forget. I am tempted to believe that when I am in trouble, you either do not care or do not have the power to help. For this, I am sorry. Help me to remember there is at least one other alternative. That is you do love me and have the power to rescue me but know it is better for me to stay in the storm at least for now. Help me Father, to love you, praise you and trust you while I am in the storm. Help me to become what you want me to be. Help me to learn what you want me to learn. Help me to row, bail, pray and learn. In the name of Jesus, who rescues us from the storms and protects us in the storms. Amen.

Paul Shero

San Angelo, Texas