Are You Washed in the Blood?

My husband and I like watching crime shows... Bones, CSI, NCIS, etc.  One thing that is remarkable is how blood is never completely washed away... it might be invisible to the naked eye but they put these chemicals on them or shine their special lights and there it is... the blood that is so incriminating.

As Christians, that is a great promise.  Being covered in the blood of Christ makes us acceptable to God... a pleasing sacrifice... a living sacrifice... and that blood, once applied, can never be washed away.  Isn't that wonderful news!

Today is Good Friday.  Although it is a sad day because it's a day of darkness... a day of remembrance... a day when we think of Jesus' death on the cross, it is also a great day.  If Jesus had not died on the cross, there would be no resurrection and without the resurrection of Jesus, there would be no promise of eternal life for you and for me.

So, here is my question today... Have you been washed in the blood?

"Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow'r?....

Are you fully trusting in his grace this hour?...

Are you walking daily by the Savior's side?...

Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?...

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?...

Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright?...

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin, and be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean, O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

Are you washed in the blood, In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless?  Are they white as snow?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?"

Bless The Lord, Oh My Soul!

It's so easy to become complacent in this day and age.  We see so much hardship... see so much cruelty and experience so much pain that it's easy to "live and let live".  But that isn't the life God has called us to live.  That's not the plan He has for us in Jeremiah 29:11.  In Luke 9:23 when Jesus describes what it means to "follow me", He didn't say, lay on the couch with the remote and a bowl of chips for hours on end.  No, he said we must lay down our lives and daily take up our cross.

Sometimes the things He asks us to do are easy and sometimes they seem hard.  But, no matter what it is He is asking us to do, it will never be beyond the capabilities of what He can do through us because we can do all things through Him.

This weekend I was reminded of a phrase I've heard before but it was so perfect for this weekend... God has a plan.  God invites us to be part of that plan.  But, it's not because He needs us.  See, God's plan will always come to fruition with or without us.  If we decide not to be part of God's plan, His Will will be done using someone else but we will miss out on the blessings He has for us.

Although they can be, God's blessings aren't always physical.  This weekend, my husband and I had opportunities to help friends and family.  We had opportunities to pray for and minister to a friend and when we allowed ourselves to be used and we were able to see the results of what God had asked us to do, we felt such happiness and peace.  We didn't do anything fantastic, but we did things that we had not planned for ourselves... opened our home, prayed, put on our winter clothes and went out in the cold instead of staying on the couch in front of a nice warm fire.

Then, after doing these things, we were blessed with not one, but two wonderful church services/sermons... one about the prodigal son and one about God's invitation to work in His plan from Isaiah 6:8.  And the words that have been ringing through my heart are, "Bless The Lord Oh my soul, oh oh oh my soul, and worship His Holy Name.  Sing like never before, Oh my soul, I'll worship Your Holy Name."

God is calling... He's knocking at your door... Who will go?  

"Also I heard the voice of The Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?'  Then I said, 'Here am I!  Send me.'" ~ Isaiah 6:8