A Purified Conscience | Morning Routine for November 2

He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. —Hebrews 9:12–14 (ESV)

From the earliest sin in Genesis, man and woman sought to cover themselves with leaves they’d gathered for themselves. In fact, it probably wasn’t a botanist but Adam and Eve who first coined the phrase, “Leaves of 3, let it be.” But when they had clothed themselves inadequately, we see the grace of God manifested, as the Lord provided animal skins, and thus began the history of a representation of righteousness provided by God, in which they could stand in His holy presence. Since the very first sin, animal sacrifice was only sufficient for a temporary covering of sin.

In today’s text, we see that if these imperfect sacrifices were received as sufficient to temporarily cover the sin of humanity, how much more should we regard the perfect sacrifice found in Jesus. For all the good teaching and miraculous works done by Jesus during His earthly ministry, it is only his suffering and death which brought about the eternal redemption for all who would receive it.

Jesus’ death for you and me not only covers us and removes the stain of our sin. The sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient to even restore our damaged conscience. As this passage tells us, if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. You and I have opportunity today to operate under a pure conscience, made so by Jesus Christ. We evidence this gift, as we serve the living God, and encourage those who hear us, to do the same.