September 29 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

1 Peter 1:17–19

Devotional

“...it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed At the cross, we see Christ’s hands and feet and side all dripping blood—crimson streams of precious blood.

His blood is “precious” because of its redeeming and atoning efficacy. It atones for the sins of Christ’s people. It redeems them from under the law. It reconciles them to God, and makes them one with him.

Christ’s blood is also “precious” in its cleansing power. It “cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:7). “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isa. 1:18). Through Jesus’ blood not a spot is left upon any believer; no wrinkle nor any such thing remains. How precious is the blood which makes us clean—it removes all the stains of abundant iniquity; it permits us to stand accepted in the Beloved in spite of the many ways in which we have rebelled against our God!

The blood of Christ is likewise “precious” in its preserving power. We are safe from the destroying angel under the sprinkled blood. Remember it is God’s seeing the blood which is the true reason for our being spared. Here is comfort for us when the eye of faith is dim, for God’s eye is always the same.

The blood of Christ is “precious” also in its sanctifying influence. The same blood that justifies by taking away sin goes on to give life to the new nature and to lead it onward to subdue sin and to follow God in obedience to his commands. There is no motive for holiness so great as that which streams from the veins of Jesus.

And “precious,” unspeakably precious, is this blood, because it has an overcoming power. It is written, “They overcame through the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 12:11). How could they do otherwise? He who fights with the precious blood of Jesus fights with a weapon which can never know defeat.

The blood of Jesus! Sin dies at its presence; death ceases to be death; heaven’s gates are opened. The blood of Jesus! We shall march on, conquering and to conquer, so long as we can trust its power!

[April 16, morning]

Extracted from C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening (public domain), language modernized by Larry E. Wilson.