The Love-Blood of God
Pastor Eric Gilmour
January 30th, 2022
If you’re married or ever attended a wedding then Genesis 2:24 is a familiar verse. The joining of the bride and groom means that the two have lost themselves in each other to become one. In the context of your relationship with Christ, you are saying goodbye to your old self and giving yourself over to God.
Marriage is wonderful, but your earthly spouse is no comparison to Christ—your bridegroom. God loves you so much that He gave Himself in blood. Revelations 1:5 says, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.” The love-blood of God wins your heart and works wonders.
THE LOVE-BLOOD PROPOSAL
The bridegroom’s love-blood is a marriage proposal. Think of a man that proposes to the woman of his dreams. He understands that by taking this step he is denying himself and saying goodbye to the idea of being with anyone else. Both individuals are ready to commit themselves to one another, fully understanding that they are leaving everyone else behind. This should be your response to the love-blood proposal. You should be thrilled at the thought of leaving the world behind to commit to God.
He gave Himself in blood so that you would belong to Him exclusively. His desire is that you will only have eyes for Him, the same way that a bride or groom only has eyes for each other. But it is much deeper than that. The love shared in a marriage is great and exciting, but it can never compare to the love Christ has for you once you agree to let Him into your life.
Your greatest love awaits when you say yes to the love-blood proposal. You are about to experience a love that you will never experience with any earthly being.
FROM SLAVE TO SPOUSE: YOU’VE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE
1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Christ paid the price because, in His eyes, you are precious and valuable. This price was paid not only to set you free from self-tyranny but to welcome you into a life-changing relationship that you won’t regret. Christ wants you for Himself to show you how your life will never be the same once you let Him in. He doesn’t set you free and then let you go about life according to your own free will. He takes you in and keeps you under His wing because He knows that’s exactly what you need. He wants to be everything for you so that you never have to leave Him and chase after anything or anyone else.
The price Jesus paid for you literally cost Him everything. Jesus doesn’t offer a flashy diamond ring, but His offer is far more expensive and valuable. He offers His life. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” You were bought with a price and that price refers to the precious blood of the Lamb.
This is a reminder that His love cannot be compared with anyone else because of the huge price He paid. God wants you to know that your relationship with Him should be valued and treasured far more than your other relationships.
LET HIM HOLD YOUR AFFECTION
Allow God to hold your affection without any competition. When you find yourself in a state of depression or overwhelmed by the sorrows of the world, it means that your eyes are not fixed on Him, and you are giving your attention to things that are not of Him.
Anytime you find yourself giving attention to anything other than the bridegroom, ask yourself these questions: Did it bleed for you? Did it rise from the dead for you? Christ loves you so much that He gave Himself in blood. He has done something far beyond anyone else and this is why He deserves not some, but all of your attention. He created you to be satisfied in Him because there is nothing more satisfying than God.
What Jesus has done is unmatched and there is absolutely nothing on Earth to compare it to. It’s a love so grand that if you turn your eyes towards it, you will be blinded to everything else.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
How much attention does His presence have in your life? If He cannot hold your attention without competition then it means you have taken your attention off the love-blood.
How will you respond to the love-blood proposal? Are you ready to belong exclusively to Him?
Will you bow your knees into submission to a love that conquers the soul? Ask the Lord to open your eyes to believe the gospel.
