The precious blood

knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. - 1 Peter 1v18-19

Redeemed. Bought back. Purchased. Ransom paid.

One would think that these things required money. We read about kidnappings and ransom demands and they always require vast amounts of money and other conditions. They demand ‘silver and gold’ in payment.

In a sense the world today has been ‘kidnapped’ from God’s presence by sin. It has been kidnapped by an aimless conduct passed down by religious tradition.

The ransom demand is not gold and silver. The payment for this kidnapping is much more precious – the demand was the shedding of blood from a prefect Sacrifice. We can try all we want, but only one thing will satisfy the demand.

The precious blood of Jesus, without blemish and without spot, is the only answer. This is such a simple truth that if we are not careful we can forget about its importance. We may even take it for granted.

Our church has recently begun to observe the Lord’s Table before every Sunday morning service. I have appreciated the opportunity to weekly reflect on that precious blood. As we prepare for the table our minds should not go to the observance itself, but to the price that was paid to redeem.

I hope that we will never take that precious blood for granted or grow accustomed to it.