Power in the Blood

I accidentally cut myself this weekend.

It was much more than a slight wound.

Fortunately, I kept calm and remembered my first aid training.

This combination saved me a trip to the emergency room.

The incident, although painful, reminded me just how important our blood is.

When I was a boy, I knew an elderly man who had a blood disease.

This disease prevented his blood from clotting properly.

Even a small cut that most would take for granted could have proved fatal to him.

I had another friend with a similar condition.

His was due to the medication he was taking.

Our blood is necessary for survival.

In fact. I currently have a friend who donates blood faithfully and regularly.

He has done so for many years and I can only imagine how many lives his blood has saved.

Yes, our blood is a precious thing.

But as precious as it is, there is something far more precious.

Something far more powerful.

That is the blood of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 13:12 (NET) - Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp.

Each of us has been saved by the blood of Jesus

Ephesians 1:7-8 (NET) - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.

By His blood, we are made right with God.

Isaiah 53:5 (NET) - He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.

Every one of us, regardless of background, has been brought nearer to God by His blood.

Ephesians 2:13 (NET) - But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

As time goes by, the scar from my injury will fade.

Hopefully it will serve to remind me to be more careful in the future.

It will also serve as a physical reminder; a reminder of the importance of the blood of Jesus Christ.

It will remind me why the sharing of the bread and the cup is so vital to us.

1 Corinthians 11:25 (NET) - In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Human blood is a precious thing.

We could not survive without it.

But the blood of Jesus is even more precious.

Because of it, we truly live!

The old hymn says it so well: There’s Power in the Blood.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 24, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 7, 2020

For Sale

I decided to take a drive Sunday afternoon,

It’s one of the few activities one can indulge in with the current COVID-19 restrictions in place.

With no specific destination in mind, I decided I would first drive by the church I attend.

With the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, worshipping together has been suspended once more.

Fortunately, our services will still occur and be streamed online.

Many churches have chosen this option at least until the pandemic has subsided.

I remembered twice finding a note on our church door from a youth group.

The note said that they stopped by and prayed for us,

Each young person had signed their name to it,

I recalled thinking what a remarkable gesture this was.

Being familiar with the many churches in the community, I decided to make this the focus of my journey.

I made a mental list of all these churches and proceeded to drive from one to the next.

I paused my journey at each one and said a prayer on behalf of those who call that church home.

Luke 18:1 (NET) - Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart.

I prayed for their worshippers and the day that they would be able to gather once again.

So I traveled from one to the next, pausing at each to pray.

Things proceeded as I expected until I was taken by surprise.

One church to which I traveled had a “For Sale” sign.

I suddenly became quite sad,

There could be any number of reasons as to why this church had permanently closed its doors.

Perhaps it was the pandemic.

Perhaps the number of worshippers had been in decline.

Perhaps there was a disagreement that led to division.

Whatever the reason, this church and its congregation was no more.

Its doors will remain closed until a buyer comes along.

What will occupy the building remains to be seen.

Now, I know the Church is not the building.

It is the entire body of believers with Christ as the head.

Ephesians 1:22-23 (NET) - And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and gave him to the church as head over all things. Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Still, I could not help but feel sad as I thought of all that happened within its walls over the decades.

All the sermons that were preached.

All the hymns of praise that were sung.

Al the prayers that were lifted.

All the weddings, baptisms and funerals that united generations of people.

Now, the lights are turned off and silence fills an empty space.

It will remain that way even after the pandemic is over.

I know that those who worshipped there did so differently than I do.

That does not matter.

I continue to pray for them.

My prayer is that they will find a new church that they can call home.

That prayer turns my sadness into hope.

1 Corinthians 1:9 (NET) - God is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 10, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, July 17, 2020