Scripture to Read: Hebrews 9:22-23
God wants us to know the significance
of the blood sacrifice because blood has always been
a part of the healing/cleansing of sin. As we learned in
yesterday’s devotion, a covenant is like a modern-day
“last will and testament’” in that a covenant does not
go into effect until there is a death. Today, as we start
in Hebrews 9:22, we see that almost everything, under
the Law of Moses, was cleansed or purified with a blood
sacrifice. God has always required the blood sacrifice
to pay the penalty for sin, because sin always results in
death (Romans 5:12; Romans 6:16, 23, Romans 8:6; Galatians
6:8; James 1:15). Therefore, for sin to be paid for
there must be a death because “without the shedding
of blood” there is never a full release from sin, nor sin’s
guilt. But, with the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, every
follower of His has the precious gift of being released
from sin’s punishment and from sin’s guilt. God tells us
in Hebrews 9:23 that this is the reason why the earthly
tabernacle, and all of its articles, had to be purified by
the blood of animals. But, in comparison to the Perfect
Tabernacle in heaven, where Christ is now, there had to
be perfect blood to purify those real things in heaven.
The only blood that is perfect is the blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Christ’s blood cleanses us and also makes
us right to be able to enter heaven one day and be with
Him.
Challenge & Application
1. What did you learn today about the significance of
Christ’s blood in comparison to the blood of an animal
sacrifice?
2. Who needs the cleansing from Christ’s blood in their
life that you know? When will you share Christ with
them this week?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!