Leviticus 17:11 (NIV)
"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes the atonement for one's life."
Mark 3:28 (NIV)
"I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them."
Jesus Christ was my atoning blood. No matter what we do, as long as we confess with out mouth and believe in our hearts that he is the Son of God, all of our sins and blasphemies will be forgiven. It seems that in a world so dark and dreary that more people should be witnessing and living a life dedicated fully to Christ. I for one, do not pick up my cross daily. I pick up my baggage. I pick up the weight of a thousand things to do. I pick up my insecurities. I pick up the stress of having Nursing as a major. I pick up my past sins. I pick up the weight of other's problems - knowing full well that I cannot fix them on my own - yet here I stand with their baggage in hand. Matthew 28: 19 says: "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (NIV). What does this mean? It means that I need to be active. I need to live out my faith. I need to let go of all of the things that I am currently holding and just give them to God. I need to know and believe that even thought I can barely keep my head up, God is gently holding me and I don't have to try to keep my head up, I just have to look up and there it will stay.
Jesus Christ came to this earth and died for me. He died for you. He died for everyone. Anything and everything that I have ever done, thought, or acted on, has been forgiven. I am washed new daily and, what is even better than that, is His mercies are new EVERYDAY! That is a promise that I should never forget. God loves me and cherishes me more than I could ever asked to be loved by another human being. We all fall short, but the beautiful thing is that no matter how short, God is always there to catch us, pick us up, and in that still, small voice say: "I am here. I am holding you. And I love you."
Phil Wickham's song Divine Romance:
The fullness of Your grace is here with me
The richness of Your beauty's all I see
The brightness of Your glory has arrived
In Your presence God, I'm completely satisfied
For You I sing I dance
Rejoice in this divine romance
Lift my heart and my hands
To show my love, to show my love
A deep deep flood, an Ocean flows from You
Of deep deep love, yeah it's filling up the room
Your innocent blood, has washed my guilty life
