STOP THE BLEEDING (01-20-13)

Hebrews 7:25

Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.

Being a Tondo boy (the village where I grew up), I also consider myself as a Quiapo boy (another district in Manila), since we have a store in this area.  On weekends, my father would bring me in our store where I would just sit there all day long.  But in the afternoon, my father would bring me to an ice cream parlor and eat a hamburger.

In Quiapo also did I saw the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene where the holy image of Jesus carrying the cross is being pulled by rope through the streets of Manila by devotees, mostly men.

And as young-minded as I was, I would ask my father why they have to do that.  Why do they need to walk barefooted and brave the heat of the sun just to have an opportunity to pull the rope.  The response I got was nothing special – it is to ask for forgiveness and favor from Him.

I am not to judge them, for I am not God.  They may have reasons – different ones.  And I may not be able to know all these reasons.

But I know there is a better alternative… oh yes, the best alternative.

Approach Jesus in prayer and accept Him as your King and Savior.  Through His mighty intercession, we are given God’s favor, forgiveness and mercy which we do not deserve in the first place.  We do not need to whip ourselves, we do not need to nail ourselves to the cross. 

For the Lord has already done that for us – His blood and not ours.

All we have to do is believe that He is our Lord.  All we have to do is to keep His Word in our hearts and live by it.  Then, we are saved.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, you saved me.  Let me keep you in my heart forever.  Let Your Word be the light unto my path, forever and ever.  Amen +

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.