“How much more shall the Blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Hebrews 9:14
Although we may always remember, we should always give thanks to Him Who’s promised to forget (Ps. 103:11-12; Jer. 31:34c).
Forgiven.
That’s the simple essence of today’s Manna as it describes how Christ’s Blood “purges (Grk. ‘katharizo’—‘to cleanse, purify, make pure, etc.’) our conscience from dead works so we can serve the living God.” Hallelujah!!
And, how we need this Message!
So often we engage in self-condemnation and self-recrimination because of past sins: “How could I have done that?”. . . “I can’t believe I could have been so stupid”. . . “How can I ever be forgiven?”. . . “I know God’s forgiven me, but I can’t forgive myself.”
Sound familiar?
Did you realize all of those are still rooted in unbelief and sinful pride? Assuredly so. And, when we engage in such we’re allowing the “accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12:10)—the “prosecuting attorney in the courtroom of our conscience”—to disable us through guilt and regret.
But, oh, dear Pilgrim, the Lord Jesus Christ. . .God’s Precious Lamb. . .is our “Advocate before the Father, the Righteous Judge” (I Jn. 2:1). . .which means He is our Defense Attorney. He’s the only One qualified to condemn us or bring a charge against us; yet, He has chosen, instead, to die in our place on the Cross and “make intercession for us at the right hand of God” (Rom. 8:31-34; Heb. 7:24-25). Glory!!
And, again, it is “His Blood that cleanses us from all sin and washes away the guilt (and painful pricking/memories) of past sins so we can serve a living God, not a dead One.” Pity the person who stops at confession and conviction—“For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee and Thee only have I sinned and done this evil in Thy sight” (Ps. 51:3-4a)—and never experiences the cleansing that comes through Christ’s shed Blood.
If He could cleanses Isaiah from his sense of wretchedness (Is. 6:1-6) and Peter from his guilt of denial and betrayal (Lk. 22:54-62; Jn. 21:1-17), He can also “cleanse you and your conscience from past sins” as you come to Him in repentance and faith. He knows everything about us (past, present and future), yet still desires to use us for His Glory and others’ good.
So, stop right now and repeat these words aloud: “Thank You, Lord, that I am forgiven. Thank You that your dear Son died in my place on the Cross so I could be cleansed from all my guilt and shame. Help me today and every day to walk in Your Spirit, grow in Your Grace and help others to also come to know Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. That way I’ll know my time here on earth has not been in vain. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated March 15, 2010