A Blood Obsession

 

 

I am beginning to wonder,

And maybe you should

About the apparent obsession

We have about the blood.

 

Especially, I must say,

The blood of the Jesus

Which was shed at Mt Calvary

For every one of us.

 

Some will sprinkle it,

As though they could,

And draw a protective line too

With the blood.

 

Some plead it on others

As though they are foes

And what comes out of such,

Only God knows.

 

A seeming obsession

That the blood gives power

Over the enemy and misfortune

Every day and hour. 

 

 

Like the covenantal ark

Of the Ancient Isrealites

That would win them the victory

Over whom they fight.

 

Was the blood spiritual

Or was it real?

The blood we sprinkled today,

Of what is it made?

 

Who collected the blood

Off the cross and the ground

And please tell me if you can,

Is this blood still around?

 

The life is in the blood

And Christ gave his for us,

The blood given on Mt Calvary,

Was the life of Jesus.

 

 

He is no longer dead

As he conquered death

And because of his resurrection

The believer has rest.

 

The price for our sin

Was Jesus’ precious blood,

The beautiful hymn correctly says,

That no one else could.

 

No one was good enough

To pay the price of sin,

It took Jesus to open heaven’s door

And let the born-again in.

 

No sprinkling required

Except in the sinner’s heart

And everyone can rest assure

It’s where the Spirit starts.

 

No shedding of blood,

No remission of sin,

Nothing Apostle or Pastor can do;

Jesus must be allowed in.

 

 

‘Tis via the Holy Spirit

That Jesus will come in

And together with the Almighty

Will make his abode within.

 

The atonement was done

In a once-for-all sacrifice

And that once-for-all sacrifice

Was the blood of Jesus Christ.

 

So why this obsession

With this so-called blood?

It is time to stop the sprinkling;

I think we really should.

 

Stewart Russell © November 23, 2024

 

Not of Merit but of Mercy

 

 

Not of merit but of mercy

Cannot be earned by you or me,

No payment is thus exacted

Yet in fact, ‘tis not free.

 

There I go a wandering

Amidst my conflicting spree,

Ah, but need I remind you again

Free did cost somebody?

 

Life eternal is costly

Though to the saved it’s free;

Costing Jesus every drop of blood

Shed on Mt Calvary.

 

How dare I try to earn

What’s been given free

Naught of merit but of mercy,

Offered by Christ to me?

 

‘Tis true, rewards of merit,

Must be dutifully earned

But to apply this to Jesus’ sacrifice,

Does God’s mercy spurn.

 

 

It is not gratefulness

And certainly not appreciation

To even think of trying to merit

The gift of salvation.

 

No amount of money

And no resumé of works

Can merit the kingdom of heaven;

Not even in the church.

 

While works can’t save

They accompany the saved

And testify of God’s saving power

Even beyond the grave.

 

Blessed are the dead

Which die in the Lord

That they may rest from their labours

And their works follow them.

 

Ephesians 2:4-7

 

But God, who is rich in mercy,

For his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins,

Hath quickened us together with Christ,

(By grace are ye saved;)

 

And have raised us up together,

And made us to sit together

In heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

 

That in the ages to come

He might show the exceeding riches

Of his grace in his kindness

Towards us through Christ Jesus.

 

 

Not of merit but of mercy

All that we have in Christ,

Any attempt to earn the Father’s love

Spurns the Son’s sacrifice!

 

Stewart Russell © June 5, 2025