Daily Devotional | The Precious Blood

Agnus Dei, or “Lamb of God,” is a well-known image of the Christian faith that has been around since at least medieval times. It features a lamb carrying a flag with the cross on it. Near this picture are often inscribed these words: “Our Lamb has conquered. Let us follow Him.”

To live holy lives is the best way to honor our salvation in Christ the Lamb. To live otherwise is to dishonor the blood He shed for our redemption (vv. 18–19; see also Eph. 2:13). His blood is infinitely precious, far beyond any earthly valuables. After all, an eternal inheritance requires an eternal treasure. An imperishable life must flow from imperishable power. This was God’s plan all along (v. 20).

Salvation, therefore, provides both the means and the motive for righteous living. We can live holy lives because of the power of Christ’s salvation, and we should live holy lives to honor the salvation Christ bought for us with His own blood. This is what it means for us to live as “foreigners” or “exiles” (1:1) in “reverent fear” (v. 17). Will we still sin sometimes? Yes. We know that as works-in-progress, we’ll need forgiveness many times on our sanctifying journeys. What this means is that we’ve been redeemed from an “empty way of life” (v. 18). We should no longer sin habitually, as we did when we were God’s enemies. As His children, we’re now empowered to pursue holiness through faith in Him (v. 21).

Peter called Christ “a lamb without blemish or defect” (v. 19), undoubtedly alluding to the Passover Lamb (Ex. 12). His Gentile readers might not have known this reference, but he clearly expected them to be studying the Old Testament and to ask their Jewish brothers and sisters for help as needed.

>> Have you ever heard the hymn, “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus”? You can easily find it online and listen to this celebration of our salvation in Christ. It would be a great addition to your devotional time today!