Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Blood. Ever really stopped to think about it? It flows through our veins carrying good things like nutrients and bad things like viruses. It flows from our bodies when we are injured. It varies in color and thickness and has unique types. It might make some people squeamish but sharing it can save lives. There is no greater symbol of life than blood.

The Israelites believed this. Hebrews Chapter 9 gives us a look into the practices and laws for worship in the earthly Tabernacle. The innermost room of the Tabernacle was called “The Most Holy Place”. Once a year the high priest entered to atone for the nation’s sin. Only the high priest could enter the most inner sanctum, all others were forbidden. The other priests and commoners only had access to God through the high priest, who would offer a sacrifice and use the blood of an unblemished animal to atone first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. Atonement is covering the debt that humans owe to God for our contributions to evil and death in this world. Verse 22 “...and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

God considered the faith and obedience of His people and they were made ceremonially clean. And then came JESUS! HIS blood not only provided atonement but also purification. HIS blood cleanses and washes away the vandalism that evil has caused in and around us so that we (the created) can live in peace with God (the Creator). Rules and rituals have never cleansed people’s hearts. It is only by the blood of the unblemished Lamb of God that cleansing occurs and right standing is restored. HIS sacrifice moves us from being considered ceremonially clean to being completely cleansed from the inside out.

There is no longer a barrier of sin or weakness on our part that can stifle God’s forgiveness. Verse 24 shows us that no one can add to what Jesus did to save us; our past, present, and future sins are all forgiven. As our High Priest, Jesus is our advocate, the mediator between us and God. (Hebrews 7:25)

If blood is the greatest symbol of life, and sharing it can save others, think about the magnitude and impact of our One and Only Savior’s blood. Jesus Christ shed His blood so that we could know the fullness of the life we were created for. Why not embrace that assurance that frees us from guilt and shame once and for all?

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Listen to the song “Plead the Blood” by Cody Carnes and know that your freedom has been purchased in full.
• Prayer: Yahweh, thank YOU for giving us YOUR breath of life and YOUR blood of salvation. YOUR blood rescues us from the mire of sin and death. Please help us to grasp the impact of YOUR selfless sacrifice on our behalf. Lead us to another who needs the impact of YOUR atonement and saving grace and allow us to share the wonderful news of the Gospel. I’m so grateful that through YOUR Spirit YOU sustain and pursue us daily. In the Powerful Name of Jesus, Amen.

Family Devo: Hebrews 9

By: Carrie Hobson

When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.   

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset  

Head

There is so much good stuff in Hebrews! I hope you’re enjoying these readings as much as I am. While we’ve been talking about Jesus fulfilling the law and completing His work, chapter 9 brings a whole new excitement for me. Yesterday, as a family you were to draw a picture of the tabernacle so that you could see what today’s passage is talking about. The first part of chapter 9 talks about the tabernacle that men built as they were instructed to do by God. In today’s reading, we see what all the different areas meant and what the priest did in the different sections. Sacrificing, tending to the lampstand, Day of Atonement, etc. Sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? We’ve talked about Jesus being the better covenant so through His blood, we no longer have to do any of those things they did in the Tabernacle. Every sacrifice in the Tabernacle before Jesus was only temporary. When Jesus appeared as a high priest, we no longer needed the man-made tabernacle. Scripture says Christ entered “the more perfect tent (the throne room of God), not made with hands” and He did that through His own blood! His blood was all that was needed to have redemption. Jesus appeared in the presence of God to take away sin forever. The very end of the chapter reminds us that Christ came once to fix the problem of sin, and He will come a second time for those of us who are waiting for Him. What an amazing day that will be! 

Heart 

Think about how people had to make sacrifices over and over again before Jesus appeared. Their sacrifices would NEVER be enough to cover sins, but Jesus was enough. He had to die one death. His perfect love blotted out every single sin. That is amazing!!  

Hands 

Take time today to sit down and really think about the sacrifice of Jesus’ life for YOU. He loved YOU enough that He gave up His life. When you think about it on a more personal level, the sacrifice he made is even more amazing. 

Prayer: Thank You, God, that You loved me enough to send Your Son. Thank You for His perfect blood that took away all my sins so that I spend eternal life with You. Amen.