Don’t you just love it when God throws the same thing at you repeatedly? I probably have a lump on the back of my head, because lately, He is really into throwing Hebrews at me. It makes me excited for this week! Did anything in Hebrews speak to you? Please feel free to share below! Next week, James!
Hebrews 9:22 (NIV)–In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
If you know who made the law, raise your hand. Okay, all together now… God. It is His law that states forgiveness can only come through the shedding of blood.
Okay, another question. Who knew all things before time began? Yep. God. Before God ever spoke this world into being, He knew sin would come. We’d fall. The separation would occur. There would be the need for sacrifice.
Hm. Wait. God made the law that required sacrifice. God knew we’d sin. God knew that there would need to be one perfect sacrifice that could only come straight from Him, from His heart, from the core of who He is. Nothing surprises Him, so He didn’t “wake up” one day and go, “Rats! Wait a second! Why did I do that? Now I have to go and die for those people.” Our Father knew what was coming all along.
(Now, hang on with me, because this is the thing about God that absolutely blows me away the most…)
But He did it anyway. He still made us. He still made the law. Oh my goodness, people… I truly believe He did it that way on purpose, just so He could say, “I love you this much and so much more.” Do you get it? Do you see it? He deliberately set it up so that Jesus would have to die. Sit on that for a second. Doesn’t it grab you right in the heart? To lavish His love for us, He set up the ultimate display of love.
And we don’t get it. Oh, God help us. We don’t get it. The depth of that love is so far greater than we can know. But how often do we sit and bask in it? How often do we allow Him to just love on us? That’s my challenge to you today. Sit still in God’s presence. Let Him love all over you. Because He does love you. More than death can kill, more than sin can steal… He loves you.
-JB
Jessica R. Patch says
This is so full of awesomeness!! Truly! Love that song too. I can always feel your excitement and passion in your blogs! Love that too!
Jodie says
Thanks, girl! That song is one of my very faves, the one that reminds me on those days when I feel totally unlovable.
Dawn Lucowitz says
I totally and completely love Hebrews 12:1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
This was one of the verses I meditated on a lot when I trained for the half marathon (nearly a year ago). When I would do a long run, I could just picture the “great cloud of witnesses” watching me, cheering for me, encouraging me along the way. They helped me not want to quit or give up, but to keep pushing through. The more I ran and meditated, the more I would feel myself letting go of so many of my cares and concerns. I would literally feel like I was throwing off all that junk that would get in my way of anything important to me.
I have often said to anyone who would listen that up until that point in my life, training for that half marathon was the most challenging thing I had ever done, not only physically, but spiritually. Those were the days I felt closest with God. Those were the days I literally felt his strength and him carrying me when I didn’t think I could carry myself anymore. Those runs became more than a spiritual metaphor for me, they really helped to transform me in more ways than I could ever imagine!
Jodie says
I think it is so cool you experienced that both physically and spiritually. It reminds me that we are a WHOLE person, body, soul, and spirit; and we really need to experience God with all aspects of ourselves, not just one. Great reminder…