Day 1: The Foundation of Our Faith

Daily Devotional

When we talk about the Christian faith, we often hear about the blood of Jesus. But what does this really mean for us today? The blood of Jesus isn't just a religious symbol or a historical event—it's the very foundation of our relationship with God. In the Old Testament, God established a covenant with His people that required animal sacrifices. These sacrifices temporarily covered sin, but they couldn't permanently remove it. They were a shadow pointing to something greater to come. Then Jesus came and changed everything. His sacrifice wasn't temporary—it was complete and eternal. His blood doesn't just cover our sins; it completely removes them. It breaks the power of sin in our lives and restores our relationship with God in a way that animal sacrifices never could. Think about that for a moment. The creator of the universe loved you so much that He provided a permanent solution to the problem of sin. Through Jesus' blood, we have direct access to God—not as strangers or outsiders, but as beloved children. Today, take a moment to reflect on this foundation of your faith. The blood of Jesus isn't just something we sing about in church—it's the reason we can approach God with confidence, knowing that our sins have been completely removed.

Bible Verse

-

Bible Verse -

"For without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."

- Hebrews 9:22

Reflection Question

How does understanding the permanent nature of Jesus' sacrifice change how you approach God compared to the temporary sacrifices of the Old Testament?

Quote of the Day

-

Quote of the Day -

“Without the shedding of his blood, there is no Forgiveness of sin. Without the shedding of his blood, there is no redemption. There is no salvation, There is no forgiveness, there is no healing. There is no relationship with the Father God.”

- Pastor Dan Zirkle

Prayer

Father, thank You for the blood of Jesus that provides a permanent solution to my sin. Help me to fully grasp what this means for my relationship with You. I'm grateful that I don't have to live under temporary coverings but can experience complete forgiveness through Christ. Amen.

Watch the full sermon from Pastor Dan

Blessed by His Blood: Understanding the Power of Jesus' Sacrifice

The blood of Jesus is not just a religious symbol—it's the foundation of our entire faith. Without the shedding of His blood, there would be no forgiveness of sin, no redemption, no salvation, no healing, and no relationship with God. While some may view talk of blood as morbid, the truth is that Jesus' blood represents the most powerful force in the universe.

Why Is the Blood of Jesus So Important?

In Hebrews 9, Jesus' blood is called "the blood of the New Testament" or the blood of a new covenant. God established this new covenant with mankind through Jesus' spotless, sinless blood—something no animal sacrifice could ever accomplish.

This new covenant is:

  • More powerful than the old covenant

  • More effective in its working

  • Built on better promises

  • Alive and powerful

Under the old covenant in Exodus 24, animal blood merely covered sin temporarily. But Jesus came to do something far greater—His blood doesn't just cover sin, it:

  • Removes sin completely

  • Resolves the sin problem

  • Breaks the yoke of sin over our lives

  • Redeems us to right relationship with God

What Does the Blood of Jesus Accomplish in Our Lives?

Jesus' blood has accomplished far more than we often realize:

  1. Justification - We are justified freely by His grace through redemption in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24-25)

  2. Redemption - Just as a coupon redeems something of value, Jesus' blood redeems us from our old life

  3. Reconciliation - We are brought back into right relationship with God

  4. Propitiation - Jesus became our substitute, taking our place

  5. Victory - "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11)

How Do We Apply the Blood of Jesus in Our Daily Lives?

Many Christians use phrases like "plead the blood" without fully understanding what they mean. Pleading the blood isn't just repeating religious words—it's about applying the power of Jesus' sacrifice through faith and declaration.

Revelation 12:11 tells us we overcome "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony." Notice there are two distinct elements here:

  1. The blood of Jesus (what He did)

  2. The word of our testimony (what we declare)

Our testimony is a declaration of faith that runs parallel with the blood of Jesus. We apply the blood through the words of our mouth—either releasing its power or negating it through unbelief.

What Does It Mean to "Plead the Blood" of Jesus?

Isaiah 43:26 gives us clear instruction: "Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be justified."

To plead the blood means to:

  1. Put God's Word in remembrance

  2. Declare His promises over your situation

  3. Stand on His Word in faith

It's like a lawyer pleading a case before a judge, citing the law. We bring God's Word (His law) before Him, reminding Him of His promises. We're not convincing God of anything—we're activating our faith in what He has already done.

Why Do Our Words Matter When Applying the Blood?

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that "death and life are in the power of the tongue." Our words either release the power of the blood or they release the curse of the law.

Too often, we declare:

  • Worry over our lives

  • Sickness over our bodies

  • Defeat over our circumstances

Instead, we should declare:

  • "I believe Jesus has forgiven me of my sin"

  • "I believe He has redeemed me from hell"

  • "I believe He has healed my body"

The power of the blood is activated through God's Word spoken in faith. Every promise in the Word is covered by the blood, and we release that power when we speak His promises over our lives.

Life Application

This week, I challenge you to become intentional about applying the blood of Jesus through your words. Instead of focusing on your problems, focus on declaring God's promises over your situation.

Ask yourself:

  1. What negative words have I been speaking over my life?

  2. What promises in God's Word address my current challenges?

  3. Am I truly believing in the power of Jesus' blood, or am I just going through religious motions?

  4. How can I make my testimony align with what the blood of Jesus has accomplished?

Remember, the blood of Jesus isn't just about getting to heaven someday—it's about living in victory today. Every time you stand on God's Word, you are pleading the blood. Every time you come boldly into His presence to pray, you are applying the power of His sacrifice.

The blood of Jesus has already secured your victory. Now it's time to walk in it through faith-filled declarations that align with what He has already done.