Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year Lent 2018 | Page 35

Jesus Shed His Blood for Them
Wednesday, March 14th
Acts 10:9-16
It was a given. If you were a Jew faithful to the Old Testament Law of God given through Moses, there
were just some things you didn't do. For instance, you didn't eat unclean foods, because that was
strictly forbidden. In fact, you avoided anything that could make you unclean, even if it wasn't
forbidden. After all, being unclean cut you off temporarily from worship of God and from fellowship in
the community. So you would just stay away from those unclean things as much as possible. And
certainly that included staying away from Gentiles.
What a shock to Peter, then, when God gave him this dream filled with unclean animals. “Kill and eat,”
said the voice. “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The
voice spoke again, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
And right after the dream, Gentiles arrived asking to see Peter. The message of the dream was
unmistakable: the old rules about what is “unclean” no longer applied.
Most Christians today probably aren't worried about becoming unclean by being around Gentiles—
after all, most of us are Gentiles. I certainly pray that getting hung up over whether someone is the
right skin color is a thing of the past among us, too. I think the bigger challenges are the self-created
“unclean” categories we all have.
“They're beyond saving. Just look at the unclean, sinful life they lead.” “They're beyond saving. Just
look at the unclean political beliefs they hold.” “They're beyond saving. Just look at the unclean
tattoos, piercings, and hair-dye they've got.”
Fact is, we're all beyond saving if we are judged by our sin-corrupted thoughts. No one is “clean”
enough to deserve salvation. Not you or me. Especially not people who judge others as though we are
more righteous than they.
That's where Jesus comes in. Jesus shed his cleansing blood to wash away your every sin. Jesus shed his
cleansing blood to forgive you for any contemptuous thoughts against others. Jesus shed his blood to
forgive you for every time you shunned someone else, whether publicly, privately, or just in your own
head. Jesus shed his blood for every time you scorned someone for not following your personal
preferences. Jesus' blood flowed from his cross to you through faith. You have since received it in the
Lord's Supper, making its’ gift personally yours. You are cleansed. Forgiven.
And here's the thing: whoever you've looked down on in the past, Jesus shed his cleansing blood for
them, too. Which means, it's our joy to give up judgmentalism and share our Savior with them.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to give up all judgmentalism because you will judge me according to your
righteous life. Help me to reach out in love to everyone I meet, remembering that you shed your
cleansing blood for them, as well. Amen.
Activity: Think of someone you know or interact with regularly that you have some judgmental
feelings toward. Pray for them without condescension.
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