“Who the Son sets free, is free indeed.” John 8:36
I glanced at the poinsettia sitting on my bedroom windowsill. Seeing the red leaves of the poinsettia brought to mind Jesus’s blood. The blood shed for me. The blood that sets me free. Walking over to the plant, I looked closely at the leaves, noticing all the beautiful intricacies. I saw the deep, rich, red color of some leaves and the brighter red of others. I noticed the veins running through the leaves. I felt the velvety softness under my thumb. As I beheld the vibrant leaves, I pondered the miracle that Jesus made this. There is so much incredible detail in a single flower petal or leaf that it feels like an entire galaxy is contained within.
But mostly I thought about His blood. This is what I choose to fixate on, what I set my life on. A reminder that I am set free because of the pain He went through. I am free from shame. Free from earning my way to favor. I am free from other people’s opinions of me. I can be authentic and walk the path Jesus has for me and know that I am worthy because of Him. Nothing saves me apart from Him. Nothing but His blood saves me. And his blood spilled on the ground for me also frees me from condemnation, for there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. When I think of the blood, I can dwell on the fact that the goal is never how many Bible plans on an app I can complete, the real goal is to grow in a personal relationship with the One who sees me, the One who loves me and lives inside me, the One who longs for me with a yearning I haven’t even begun to fully grasp. A heart soaked in His truth, rather than just simply head knowledge, is what leads you into deeper love with your King. See the Bible for the love letter to you that it is. Pause and breathe and soak in His loving, freeing truth. May we understand more and more how much we are loved by Him and covered by His blood. He took our shame and guilt on the cross and dealt with it already so that we would no longer try to pay for something that has already been paid for. He took it. It is finished. You have been bought with a price, and that price was paid with His blood, and that payment has been made in full. Freely take what was so painfully given.
When I did online research into poinsettias, I discovered that the star shaped flowers are said to represent the star that guided the wise men to the baby Jesus, the red leaves represent Christ’s blood, and the white leaves His purity. It felt like I had known this at one time and maybe I just forgot. Just like sometimes I can forget that Christ’s blood has paid my way and that no amount of good deeds can ever make me more worthy of His salvation. I am not made more holy by what I do. Christ’s blood on the cross is the only thing that makes me holy. Not by works are we saved, not by works are we saved, not by works are we saved. Let my heart beat with this remembrance.
As you go about your daily life, may you not get so caught up in the bustle and the busyness that you forget the blood. The blood Jesus willingly gave on your behalf so that He could set your heart free from burdens and spend all eternity with you. Ponder the beauty He has created. Marvel at the details in flowers, plants, and anything else in nature and let it move you to awe. Let Him enchant you and refill you with wonder. May you breathe deeply the fresh scents of the earth and let it give a freshness to your soul. All creation declares His glory. May the truth that you are covered fully by Christ’s blood course through your own blood in your body, so that you are renewed and energized by this knowledge, so that you feel it give you confidence and boldness in your day. And if you happen to pick up a poinsettia, I pray it serves as a beautiful reminder of how free Christ has made us to be in Him every time you look upon it.
Allison Whiting
About the writer: Allison lives in Maine. She is a daughter of the King, a warrior princess in Christ, and like a jewel in a crown, she shines on His land.
