Do you think of blood only when it is spilled? Life is in the blood, and your life continues because your blood circulates within you whether you give it any thought or not. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin, but this has been taken care of for you so it doesn’t require the shedding of your own blood. I have called you to be a living sacrifice. You are mine whether you live or die, and neither death nor life shall separate you from my love. Until your appointed time to step into eternity comes think of yourself as a living sacrifice and your blood circulating to animate your service to me. 

My word teaches you to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. This has created a debate about which day is the Sabbath for conducting worship services. I can resolve this question for you. Worship every day. The original purpose of the Sabbath was not for joining together for worship but for a day of rest. You can’t take every day off, but you can worship every day. I’m not as rigid and dogmatic as you may think. I’m prepared to grant you a great deal of latitude in scheduling your times of joining together with other believers for fellowship. Let each one be convinced in his own mind, and keep meditating on what it means to worship the Father in Spirit and Truth. 

How much attention do you pay to the devil? You do have an adversary who seeks to devour you but if you resist him he will flee from you. He loves attention and you shouldn’t give him any more than you have to. Are you familiar with the creeds of the faith that are concise summaries of doctrine? Have you noticed that the devil isn’t mentioned in them? My word repeatedly tells you to be as little children and to be as innocent as doves. If you want victory over the devil don’t look to him, but look to me. I can fight him more effectively than you can, and I can keep you better than you can keep yourself. 

Have you ever used humor as a weapon? Do you make different jokes when you are angry than when you are not? Is humor a socially acceptable form of hostility? Humor can be harmless, and even used in a positive sense to diffuse tension, but it can also be used to harm. You know this because you have been on the receiving end of cruel jokes. If you would speak words of truth and life then consider how your words will be received, not only by those present, but by those who are absent as well, because word gets around. Don’t use humor as an excuse to speak words without grace and love.