Sep 11

“Dipped in Blood”

  • Filed under Faith

  • September 11, 2011

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice he judges and wages war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.  He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.”  (Rev 19:11-13)

What a picture of Jesus Christ the king!  Much of Revelation 19 is devoted to John’s vision of Jesus as the conquering king.  I am intrigued by the statement, “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood.”  Commentaries are split between the blood being that of his enemies, or that of himself.

In line with the latter, I believe the blood represents the sacrifice of Himself, the laying down of His life.  It represents His having paid the full price for sin, while never having known sin.  He conquered death, hell, and the grave and thereby has the full legal right to be the King of Kings.

I also believe the blood on the robe is a constant reminder for all to see.  It heralds that He gave His life as a ransom for all.  It is the eternal signature of God’s love and forgiveness.  As we gaze upon Him, we cannot help but see that He is not only the king, but also, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  (John 1:29)

His kingship was legally obtained through His having paid in-full the wages of sin.  Because He knew no sin, He rose from the grave victoriously, death could not hold Him.  Sin’s penalty could not hold Him.  And the good news is that He gives this same victory freely to those who believe. “…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  (Romans 3:24)

Sadly, it is common for many to feel like the rider on the white horse is coming after them.  Religion teaches that He is angry and ready to judge without warning our smallest faults and largest failures.  This mindset says, “Yes He died for our sins, but our human propensity to fall short is really greater than His fulfillment of God’s justice on the cross.”

Let us remember that it is by His grace that we have been born-again into His kingdom.  It is His grace that “teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions…” (Titus 2:12)  And it is His blood, an eternal reminder on the robe of the King, which has redeemed us and brought us to the place where “nothing can separate us from the love of God.”  We are His bride, and He is deeply and passionately in love with us.

The rider on the white horse is the king and lord of all.  He wages war against His enemies and is victorious.  We who believe are not His enemies.  He has redeemed us and called us His own.  His reign is forever, and so is His love.  As it says in Revelation 19:7, “Let us rejoice and give Him glory!”

Permanent link to this article: https://fueledbygrace.com/dipped-in-blood/

Sep 06

Eyes to the Blind

  • Filed under Faith

  • September 6, 2011

Job 29:15 – Job in defending himself said as part of his discourse, “I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.” This verse can brand our hearts with God’s intention for us. He wants us to be “eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.” Eyes to see His love & help others see, and in seeing, standing and helping others to stand on the rock of His grace, truth, & love. Hebrews 12:12,13 – “Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.” We have a greater call than we can fathom, to open blind eyes and heal the lame, simply by proclaiming, preaching, even sharing over coffee, the simplicity of Christ & His finished work.

Permanent link to this article: https://fueledbygrace.com/eyes-to-the-blind/

Sep 06

Because the King Says So

  • Filed under Faith

  • September 6, 2011

2 Samuel 9:8 says, “Mephibosheth bowed down and said, ‘What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?’”  Through the years religion has taught us a response not unlike Mephibosheth’s response.  It teaches us that, even though we’re in Christ, we are still evil, and we’re unworthy.  In essence, like Mephibosheth, we see ourselves as “dead dogs.”

But thank God for King David!  His treatment of Mephibosheth is a picture of God’s grace, mercy, & unconditional love, based only on a covenant. For us, it is the New Covenant made between the Father and His Son, of which we have been made partakers.  We can eat at the King’s table because He says so.

Religion says to be fearful of an angry, judgmental God.  Religion says “keep short accounts with God.”  Nowhere is that phrase found in Scripture, but it sounds right and feeds our natural mind’s logic that says surely we’re not really forgiven.  “Surely there has to be a part for us to play to keep our spot at the King’s table.”

Yes, we do have a part to play.  And that part is to believe, to gaze upon Him and be transformed by our minds’ being renewed in His grace and love.  “His grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness.”  It is amazing how simple it is.

Mephibosheth thinks David wants to kill him when David wants to bless him.  Mephibosheth saw only his brokenness and unworthiness.  Many times we look at ourselves and see the same brokenness and unworthiness.  But through Jesus’ horrid sacrifice on the cross, the Father has forgiven everything!  He beckons us, “Come boldly to the throne of grace!  Rest your head on the chest of Jesus like John did.  Rest and eat of Heaven’s best!

Like Mephibosheth, we are lame.  We are lame yet we are eating at the King’s table.  Though we are unable to “walk” in perfection, we are eating at the King’s table.  Why?  Because the King says so, that’s why.  It really is amazing how simple it is.

Permanent link to this article: https://fueledbygrace.com/because-the-king-says-so/