Therefore...

“Life is too short not to create, not to love, and not to lend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters.”

- Eric Maisel

In Monday’s devotional, I wrote about the blood of Jesus, shed for us for the forgiveness of sins. His sacrifice is the only way our sins can be forgiven for all eternity.  

In Hebrews 10, the writer calls us to action in response to what Jesus has done for us. He writes,

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

- Hebrews 10:19-25

Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross:

1.     We are to live with confidence that our salvation is secure in Him.

2.     We are to draw near to God with a sincere heart.

3.     We are freed of a guilty conscience.

4.     We are to hold onto hope with unswerving dedication.

5.     We are to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

6.     We are to remain in fellowship with one another.

7.     We are to encourage one another.

What an amazing list!  Because of the sacrifice Jesus voluntarily made on the cross, we are set free from our past, from our sin, our mistakes and our failures; we are filled with the assurance that we belong to Him and our eternity is secure; and we have the privilege of living out life here on earth that is a manifestation of that gift He has given us by helping one another, loving one another, doing life with one another, and encouraging one another.

If we do these things, life will be worth living. Our lives will count for something, both here on earth and for all of eternity.

May we be living testimonies of Jesus, for they will know we are Christians by our love.

Pastor Ken

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