Written in Red

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 
1 Peter 1:17-19 (ESV)

I read about a sailor who used to stand watch on a ship’s bridge at night. No white lights were allowed up there because they’d blind you to the water. Every light was covered with a red filter.

Here’s the strange part. If a message came in written in red ink or a red felt tip pen, he couldn’t read it. The red light blended with the red ink until the words disappeared. Something was written on the page, but it looked blank.

That’s what happens when God looks at your sin through the blood of Jesus. Today’s verse says you were redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” The word “precious” means infinitely valuable. What does infinite value even look like? 

Think about how a payment is only as good as what it’s worth. If you owe $100 and hand over $20, you still owe $80. A payment can only cancel out debt up to what it’s worth. Jesus’ blood has no ceiling on its worth, so there’s no debt of sin big enough to exceed it.

That’s the payment standing between you and every sin you’ve ever committed. So when you belong to Jesus, your sin doesn’t show up anymore when God looks at your life. It’s gone, because it was never just partly paid for.

Today when you think back over something you wish you hadn’t done or said, stop for a second and let the reality of Jesus’ blood sink in. Whatever your sin was, it never had a chance to exceed what Jesus already paid. Let the blood of Jesus not only forgive you, but free you. You’ll begin to obey God not just to stay out of trouble, but because you can’t help loving Him back. 

Next time you fall short, pray: “Father, thank You for covering that with the blood of Jesus,” and mean it. Let the truth fill you up before you move on with your day.

Whatever’s written on your page, the blood already made it disappear.

Prayer: Father, thank You that my sin doesn’t show up when You look at me; it’s covered by the blood of Jesus. Help me thank You constantly, for the way You always cleanse me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.