It's About the BLOOD

If you are like me, you have been watching these Olympics like the other multiple millions of people around the world. I have always enjoyed the Olympics, not necessarily because of the competition but because of the stories behind those that are competing and the roads that they have taken to get there.
Everyone this year was once again talking about this man who is no doubt the greatest athlete of all time, Michael Phelps who at this point, has 21 gold medals and counting. If you watched him in any of the races this year, you have probably noticed these purple circles on his arms and shoulders. As a matter of fact, it is not just him but numerous athletes that are wearing these. I watched a story on what they are and the term used for this is called cupping. It basically is a suction cup that is placed on an area of the skin. The suction is applied at different levels with the goal in mind to suck and bring the blood to the stressed area. The blood with its rich oxygen base helps promote and speed up healing. This is very important to that athlete that is pushing his or her body to the limit on a daily basis! The more I think about it, I can't believe that some doctor found out that getting hickies helps promote healing!
As I watched that story, I thought about that one, all important thing...the blood! Just as they had determined that it is the blood that promotes and helps speed up healing, there is another blood that does the same but at a much greater level.
You see our lives are a lot like those athletes, wore down, stressed and tired from life. They are wore down and damaged from this thing called sin. Everyone of us deal with it, as a matter of fact we are born with it. Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. It is that sin that separates us from God. It is for that reason that we need a Savior, a Savior to take away our sin. That could only be done by the shedding of one thing...the blood. Hebrews 9:22 states that according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. You see it is His blood, that washes away our sins. Being good can't do it. Going to church can't do it. Giving and serving can't do it...only His blood. When the precious blood of Jesus was shed on the cross for your sin and my sin, He took all of the sin upon Himself. All that you and I need to do is repent of that sin, ask Him to forgive us and to make Him the Lord of our life. When you do, His blood will come to the surface and heal you of your sin and promote a new, healthier way of life!
What Can Wash Away My Sins? Nothing but the BLOOD of Jesus!

Pastor John
Be Blessed...I Sure Am!