Intentional 21 Devotional: Day 14 - Ashley Elias

Blood = Love

Recently I was at a Midweek Encounter Service at Faith Chapel, and we were nearing the end of worship when the song "The Blood" by Bethel Music was being sung. That song does an incredible job of personalizing what the power of the blood of Jesus does in a person's life.

"Does anyone want to be holy, righteous, purified, and spotless? Let me tell you, it's only by the blood." No matter how hard we try. we will never be able to obtain holiness, righteousness, purity, or a perfect life by human effort. The next part of the verse focuses on being truly valued at the highest level, being forgiven with no residue of shame, blame, or guilt, and living a life of genuine freedom: "Does anybody want to be worthy, forgiven, justified, really living? Let me tell you, it's only by the blood."

I've sung a lot of songs about the blood of Jesus. I've taught about the blood of Jesus. In my personal prayer life, I've thanked Jesus for the shedding of His blood on the cross for me. I've pleaded the blood of Jesus over people, houses, and circumstances because there is power in the blood. I love taking communion, remembering what my Lord and Savior did on the cross for me and for everyone else. Without the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus on that tree, we wouldn't have direct access to God or be able to call Him Abba Father. Without the blood, we wouldn't have the infilling of Holy Spirit literally dwelling inside of us, or the ability to overcome sickness, demons, death, hell, sin, or anything else rooted in darkness. Everything we have as Christians is because of His blood, and it

was given freely before we ever even had our first thought about Jesus.

Aren't you so grateful for the blood?

As we were singing corporately, Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me to

change the word "blood" to the word "love." He said, "Blood = Love." Blood and love are interchangeable. They mean the same thing to Him. He reminded me that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. He wanted me, and I believe all of us, to begin looking at the word blood whether in a song, while reading the Bible, in conversation, during communion, or anytime we hear, think, or say Jesus' blood to instantly think of the word love as well.

Jesus giving up His life for us was the greatest gift we could ever receive in this lifetime. And the greatest of all gifts is love. God is love, and He gave Himself up as a free gift, a love gift, for us. While we were still sinners, Christ gave His life for us. God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him would have life, life eternal. It's all about His LOVE. Blood = Love.

Have you ever been in love? Love makes you do crazy things, things you

would never do unless you were in love. Love changes you for the better. Love makes you think about another person more than yourself. When you love, you willingly and joyfully put someone else before you without hesitation.

Have you ever felt that kind of love from someone else? Blessings and good things flow from a heart that is full of love. A transformed life is the result of a heart saturated in divine, heavenly love. You think different. You see different. You live different when you are loved.

Engagement: We love because He first loved us. He sacrificed His life for us because of love. Today, let's focus on His love revealed through His blood. Go ahead and play your favorite worship song about the blood and try singing or listening to them while intentionally replacing the word blood with love. Here are a few worship songs you can spend time with:

• "The Blood" - Bethel Music

• "Nothing but the Blood" - Traditional Hymn

• "O the Blood" - Gateway Worship

• "Thank You Jesus for the Blood" - Charity Gayle

• "Blood of Christ" - Jesus Image

• "The Blood of Jesus" - Hope Darst

Scripture References Reflected in This Devotion:

Hebrews 9:22, Romans 5:8, John 3:16, John 15:13, Hebrews 10:19–22, 1 John 4:8–10, 19, Galatians 4:4–6