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"This is the last will and testament of me, in this city, in this province or state, dated this day. … I hereby revoke all wills and codicils previously made by me."
If you recognize these words, you have written, benefited from, or been the executor of a will. Much soul-searching goes into writing an effective last testament, and in making sure that it is properly executed. The heirs benefit in receiving a bequest, be it money or precious heirlooms. I received such a bequest from a beloved aunt, who loved and encouraged me while she lived, leaving me her nurse's watch, diamond anniversary band, and even a fur coat! But the stark reality is that for a will to come into effect, someone has to die!
The writer of Hebrews teaches of a final will and testament that exceeds every one ever written by human beings — the one written by God Himself.
"In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Hebrews 9:16-18, 22 NIV)
The old covenant, which instituted the temple sacrifices, has been replaced by the new covenant, under which our Lord Jesus made Himself the ultimate sacrifice for our cleansing before God and our salvation. At the death of Jesus, in His blood flows the very life and power of the good news! Scripture isn't just a bunch of words written on a page, but a living book which shares that life with those who, with all their hearts, believe and embrace what it teaches.
Thinking about the blood of Christ may not be pleasant at first, but consider this: human life exists because of blood, as it enables our bodies to contain a soul. Without blood, we die! There is a mystical link between our bodies and spirits, which God created for us, not just to eat and breathe, but to have a spiritual connection with Him.
"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." (Leviticus 17:11 NIV, emphasis mine)
Jesus' blood, shed for us on the cross, is our source of spiritual life, and without it, there can be no spiritual life. A final will and testament ends when its bequests are given out, but Jesus' blood will never lose its power to bring life, and life abundantly.
Let us thank God for the power of Jesus' sacrifice of His life and for God's gift of His only Son, Who gives us new, abundant life.
Prayer: We praise You, Father God, for knowing and loving us so much that You want us to be with You forever. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus for us, to show us the way home. Thank You that there is life for us in Jesus' blood. Amen.
Copyright © 2022, by Shirley Moulton <shirley_moulton@PROTECTED>, first published on the PresbyCan Daily Devotional presbycan.ca .
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Reprinted from PresbyCan with author's permission
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