Redemption – the Greater Work – The Presidential Prayer Team

With the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. – 1 Peter 1:19

It is one thing to be a substitute teacher, or be the one in a ball game who comes in as a substitute for another. They are important for their specific purpose. But there is One whose substitution far outweighs any other on this Earth… Christ’s substitution for you.

The Bible recounts many instances of something or someone taking the place of another. The Lord provided a ram to Abraham for Isaac (Genesis 22:13). A lamb was slain and its blood placed on the doorposts to protect Israel’s firstborn (Exodus 12). Isaiah presented the Messiah as the innocent Lamb (chapter 53). Hundreds of years later, at the sight of Jesus, John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Puritan Thomas Watson understood that redemption (payment for another) was God’s greatest work: “Great was the work of creation but greater the work of redemption; it cost more to redeem us than to make us; in the one there was but the speaking of a Word, in the other the shedding of blood (Luke 1:51).”

Hymnwriter Frances Ridley Havergal saw a picture of the crucified Christ and penned these words: “I gave My life for thee/ My precious blood I shed/ That thou might ransomed be/ And quickened from the dead/ I gave, I gave, My life for thee/ What hast thou given for Me?” The truth is that you can do nothing – Christ did it all for you! In response, love Him, serve Him, and give Him the honor He so deserves. Then pray that this nation will see Him in the wonder of Christmas and believe!

Today’s Verse: 1 Peter 1:19

but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: John 10:14-18, 40-41

¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

⁴⁰He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. ⁴¹And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.”