drained out

And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.

Leviticus 1:15

As we're on the altar of fire—"a living sacrifice"—our High Priest does His expert work on us. We are not only cut into pieces by His double-edged sword of the Spirit, but our wounds bleed and must be drained out. 

The cuts of the cross may also arrive from other people. It seem to hurt the most when coming from our beloved brothers and sisters in the church. We are left with wounds. We are left bleeding from their words or actions. 

It hurts ... and we bleed. 

We forgive ... but we still feel the blood pouring out. The wound is still open. 

It hurts ... but let the Lord drain the "blood" all the way out.

As our own soul's life is dried up from this work of the cross, this altar experience, we end up fully dead to it. There's no more that may be done to us. We are drained out. No more bleeding, no more crushed feelings, it's all already bled out. We have been slain by it. There reaches a point with these cross-hurts to where it hurts no more and neither can someone hurt us again in that same way.

On the other side of this bleeding, in resurrection, those veins have a different flow in them. The old wounds are drained out. The cuts no longer hurt or bleed. You are healed and it cannot affect you now. 

Apologies toward you are not what's needed to be healed from hurts. It may help on their part but it's not necessary on yours. You have forgiven them. While wounded and hurt, while your soul bleeds out, you say "Father forgiven them, they don't know what they are doing." 

After forgiveness, you do not always feel like it's over. This is due to the flow of the blood being drained out. Emotionally, there is still more to be drained out. Mentally, you may have more thoughts that have to flow out on the altar before the Lord. Even the very strength of your life may need to be drained out before this is over. 

Then finally, once the blood is drained out, you are done with it. It no longer hurts, it is an old scar. There is no unforgiveness, no bitterness, only old scars from the wounds. Your veins have stopped bleeding. You are drained out. 

Wisdom may be applied for future instances if needed, but you are not bitter and you don't look upon the others in any bad or sad way.

Forgiveness may be easily granted if they apologize, but it is already there inside of you. 

Now, in resurrection, new life flows through your veins. A maturing may have happened or a needed brokenness. It may be for your own growth or it may be useful for ministering to others. 

Our Great High Priest knows how a sacrifice works. He has cut you and He has drained you out on the altar.

There is a time for being wounded and a time for being healed from it. There is a time to bleed and that time may extend a little in order to let the blood be drained out. But there is also a time to bleed no more from it. Our scars shine glory and our life goes on in resurrection.

If your soul is wounded, let it bleed all the way out. Spend some time before the Lord, resting on the altar, letting Him apply the cross and drain out the blood. There may be more to flow out. Let the Lord do His work. 

On the other side of the cross is resurrection. On that side you bleed no more from that wound. But for now,  let the blood be drained out on the altar.