The Most Precious Gift

God lives and works today, and he loves each one of us. That is why he gave up his only son, Jesus Christ, so that through Jesus we could all be saved and made into new creatures. Today's meditation by Basilia Schlenk shares how one person, who thought he was a hopeless case, personally discovered that no one is a hopeless case in God's eyes.

Are we indifferent to what Jesus has done for us? Are we blind towards our sins? Or does our heart rejoice? Who is a God like thee, pardoning iniquity? Micah 7.18 And the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1.7 I'm reminded of something that once happened in England that clearly shows us the power of Jesus' love and his blood that was shed for us. Years ago there was a criminal who was really infamous.

His parents were Christians, but already in an early age he had begun to steal and do many evil things. His mother prayed for him, but he grew worse and worse. He was sent from one prison to another.

There he was put under special guard because people said, he's capable of doing anything. One day two missionaries came to the penitentiary. At first the guards didn't want to let him go to the worship service because they knew he would only disturb things.

But to the surprise of all, this criminal was very quiet in the worship service. The missionaries gave him a New Testament. But as he returned to his cell he cried out, for me there's no salvation.

In despair he threw his New Testament to the ground. It fell open. He knelt down to read that page because there was a verse underlined in red.

The blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1.7 Then all at once the power of his despair was broken. The criminal saw Jesus, the crucified Lord, before his eyes.

Blood flowed out of Jesus' wounds. He saw his sins heaped up high, but the blood of Jesus flowed down upon this gigantic mountain of sin. It covered his guilt like a vast ocean.

When did we last rejoice that there's a God who forgives sin? When have we thanked God for the greatest gift, the suffering and death of his dear Son for the sake of our sin? With thankful hearts let us pray to Jesus today. Lord Jesus, your sacrifice wasn't in vain for me. I claim your forgiveness.

I bring my sins to you. I bring them into the light and confess them openly. I don't want to keep them in my heart and keep them secret.

Cover my sins with your precious blood and cleanse me fully from them. Amen. This would be the greatest joy for Jesus if he could experience today that we claim his most precious gift, his precious blood, for our cleansing, redemption and renewal.

And for us, it's the greatest gift there is. I praise your blood. I praise your blood.

It works such miracles of grace. Your blood will cleanse from sin and shake. Your water is mine to all proclaim, and your boundless love.

For a free leaflet by the same author, please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. That's God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. God bless you.