As we celebrate our independence in the United States of America lets remember those who fight for freedom everyday. Let’s remember those who have fallen in battle. I thank you. You put it all on the line for freedom.
There is One who can give true freedom.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
Watch this to see how
Everyday is a gift. I know this is a cliché but it is true. Even if that day you have been given is a rainy one. It is a gift. The air we breathe we take for granted. The water, the food, the clothing, the shelter are all gifts. This is what allows life to continue. What happens in that life may not feel like a gift. You may feel your life is terrible. Maybe even unlivable. Maybe you are jobless, friends less, or homeless. Maybe the life you were living suddenly changes because you lost a loved one to death or they left you. Maybe you get up everyday and go to a job you don’t like going to. Maybe there is some “dream” you want to be living.
There are a few ways you can look at those situations. Some say life is what you make it. If you want to go after your dream just go get it. You can do this but be careful. Make sure going after your dream doesn’t negatively affect others you love. Even before that, make sure going after your dream doesn’t negatively affect your relationship with God. This should be first before you go after that dream.
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36
Go to any book store and you will see a huge self-help section. There will be many books about improving yourself. There will be many books about how to succeed in business, health, and life overall. There may even be a few of these books in the religious section teaching you how to live your best life now. But what good is any of this if you lose your soul? What good is any of it if you don’t have a relationship with God? What good is any of it if you don’t know Jesus?
That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9
I was one of those people with ambitions to be successful in business. I was chasing that American dream. Mean while things in my life weren’t firing on all cylinders. More than that, I didn’t know Jesus. I was truly just doing my own thing. I was just after making me happy and serving myself. I was my own god.
I see this as a common occurrence in the world. People are chasing success. Again, there is nothing wrong with going after your vision, but your why is what is important. Are you chasing that dream to say you did it? Are you chasing that dream because the world says you have to leave that type of legacy for your life to mean something? Are you chasing that dream because it is now your identity?
I chased it for these reasons. But if I would achieve what the world sees as success what would I really have? What would I really have if I didn’t know Jesus? In the end I would still end up dead. I may end up with a bunch of money to hand down, but I would still be dead. If I was to live my entire life successfully, as the world sees it, and not know Jesus, I would end up dead and forever separated from God. I would have lived for nothing. All would be in vain.
But all of that changes when you know Jesus. Your heart changes. Your thirst for the things of this world will be quenched. He gives you living water that is so much better than the water of the world.
Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
When you know Jesus you will have eternal life. Will that make your life easy? No! It may make it harder. Following Jesus is not the easy road, but it is the road that leads to life. It leads to an abundant life. Not with the things of the world that are perishable, but with the things of heaven.
I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:9-11
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Get in His Word! Stay in His Word!
The bad news first. I am a sinner. I am a liar. I am a thief. I have pretty much broken all Ten Commandments. I am doomed! I am a sinner!
How did this happen? How am I this bad? Is there hope? Where is the good news??
You see, along came a serpent that asked a simple question, “Did God really say?” And then he replied to the answer “that is because you will be like Him.” Often this continues to be what plays out when we sin. The question gets asked and then we choose to try to be our own God. Our sin separates us from God because He is so Holy. But He gives us a way to be next to Him.
In the Old Testament God kept coming for His people. He chose a nation for Himself to make holy. Through this nation a redeemer would come to the world. Even though this nation kept disobeying, God kept saving them. He chose Moses to lead the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt. He did not give them a law to obey before he rescued them. He saved them from the rule of Pharaoh then He gave the law. The order of redemption is Salvation, Obedience, and Blessing. This is a theme throughout the Bible.
Knowing that the law couldn’t be kept God allowed animal sacrifice to atone for sins. The penalty of sin is death. Blood is the source of life. It must be spilled to atone for sin. A sacrificial system was laid out by God, but it pointed to something greater.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
As time went on Israel kept falling. The whole time this was going on God kept pointing to one moment in history. The Holy Spirit led some to prophecy about it hundreds of years before it happened.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:1-9
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. Psalm 22:1-18
These are just a few examples of the many. God has always been pointing to His plan to redeem. This wasn’t just for Israel. His plan is for all the nations. He gave us His only begotten Son. He came and did what the law could not do. He came and did what sacrificing lambs and goats could not do. He is the perfect Lamb. He is the scapegoat.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
God, knowing that we couldn’t keep the law, came down to us and became a man. He kept the law His entire life, being tempted as we are tempted, feeling the same suffering we do, yet He did not fall.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
He lived a perfect life without blemish. He did so knowing the pain of the cross was His main mission. He did so amongst many who hated Him. Many spit on him. Many thought He was just crazy. Yet He lived a life of perfection rooted in the Word and abiding in the Holy Father.
Then comes the humiliation. The scourging. The Cross. His death was the worst in history. The beating and the scourging took Him inches away from death. Then He had to carry His cross with a crown of thorns placed on His head. Then they nailed Him to the cross. Nails through His wrists and feet and the He was raised up to hang there suffocating.
On the cross came His Words:
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30
His blood is the blood of the perfect Lamb. It was spilled to cover sins. Every sin committed and yet to be committed. His sacrifice is what the old system pointed to yet could not fulfill.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthian 5:21
This took place for whosoever believes in Him. He suffered the worst death one could suffer so our sins can be forgiven. He suffered the worst death one could suffer so whosoever believes can have eternal life.
This is Good News!
It doesn’t end here. After this happened Jesus was in the tomb for three days and three nights.
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40
Then He rose. Not just spirit, but bodily. This is Good News! This is the resurrection. This is what Sunday is all about. He has risen! Risen indeed! Now we have an advocate with God. Now we share in His resurrection. Now we are free from the slavery of sin. Now death has been defeated.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7
I pray you believe.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17
Holy Father, You are almighty God. You set heaven and earth in place. You make all possible. I pray that the readers of this believe in Your Son. I pray they are “whoever”. Lord, work in their hearts. There is nothing we can do. You have done it all. Others say “do, do, do,” you have said “it is finished.” Holy Spirit, work in hearts to take out hearts of stone and make them flesh. Let us put our faith in Christ Who died the worst death, taking on the sins of the world, so whoever believes and repents can be forgiven. Thank You so much for Your Son, giving us forgiveness, a way to turn from sin with a hearts of repentance, and eternal life with You. Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us. Thank You for Your Word to show us the reflection of who we are and the way to know Who You are. May we always find You there. I pray all of this according to Your will being done on earth as it is in Heaven. I pray all of this in the Name above all names. In the only Name that saves. I pray in the Name of my Lord, Savior, Healer, Sanctifier, coming King, Yessuah AhMessiach, Jesus Christ. Amen
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1:3-10
THIS IS GOOD NEWS!!
It’s crazy. It is insane. Sometimes I can’t believe that I actually believe. The story is unbelievable on so many levels. At one point in time I did not fully believe. At one point in time I did not fully understand. Now I believe. Now I understand. What has changed? What is different about me that allows me to understand and believe something that by our own human thinking is impossible?
The answer is in the very book I didn’t want to read. The answer is in the very book I thought was just like every other book written by men. The answer is in the Holy Scripture.
In my second year of Spiritual life I can give a decent defense of my belief in God. For those who don’t know, apologetics is a term used for defense of faith. My apologetics argument is educated, but what does that prove? Will that win a heart to Jesus? No! Is that how I was won to Jesus? No! While I do believe, and Scripture commands, that all believers should give a defense of our faith, and it shouldn’t be “because faith is believing in something I can’t prove,” it does not truly explain why we came to believe.
When Jesus was with His disciples, performing many miraculous things, people who witnessed them still didn’t believe He was the Messiah. After He fed five thousand people with just a few loaves of bread and a few fish they still wanted to know what sign He would give them. He showed them several times many signs and miracles yet they still did not believe.
So where does my faith come from? Where does the faith of a believer in Christ today come from? It comes from the same place faith in the Lord has always come from. It comes as a gift from God.
In John 6, after the people follow Jesus Capernaum, the day after He fed five thousand, they question Him about the bread and Jesus told them He was the bread of life. He said He was the manna from heaven. They grumbled about it because they did not understand and “Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:43-44
God does not invite people to be saved. He commands them. —R.C. Sproul
Jesus is saying the faith that the followers lacked had not been given to them by God. He had not drawn them, like drawing water from a well. Do I know why God chooses some people and not others? Do I know why I was chosen? No and No. There is an answer, given by the Apostle Paul, to why faith has to come from God.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
God gives us faith and saves us through grace so we do not boast. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves from our ourselves. Jesus did it all on the cross. We believe because God opens our eyes, our ears, our minds, and our hearts to know Jesus. No one can believe what we believe on our own without God giving it to us.
This is not to say the faith of a believer will not be tested. This is not to say there won’t be times when you question what you believe. I often come across things, in Scripture and life, that make me question my faith. Let’s not get questioning confused with doubt. When I question my faith I search deeper for answers. For example, I was watching a video on youtube put up by an atheist, and she was questioning a Scripture in the book of Deuteronomy. So I did some research and found an explanation for the verse that showed she was misinterpreting. The questioning made me search out God more and made my faith stronger. I believe this is the design of Scripture and our faith relationship with the Lord. As for the atheist, perhaps she doesn’t see the Scripture for what it is because she has not been enabled to by the Lord yet.
So this brings me to a possible dilemma for the believer. If my faith is a gift that can only come from God, then why am I called to preach the gospel to all nations? Why would anyone witness and give their testimony? Why have missions around the world and go on mission trips? The answer comes down to, because we are commanded to. We are the vehicle God has chosen to bring the Gospel to the world. The world needs to hear. We are just the planters of seeds. God makes the seeds grow. Sometimes the soil isn’t ready. Sometimes the soil will never be ready. Sometimes it takes a little more fertilizer. We do not have the ability to know when the soil will be ready. We are just called to plant.
I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:3-5
Since we do not know who exactly will have ears to hear and eyes to see, we must tell everyone. Even people who, in our human minds, may not be the people we think God wants to save. This often makes me think of Jonah. God told him who to speak to and he refused. He ran the other way. But Jonah couldn’t run from God. Neither can we. All we can do is obey and be so very thankful the He enables us to believe.
If you are reading this and feel you have not been enabled by God to believe, but you want to, ask God right now to change you. Ask Him to make your heart turn to Him. Ask Him to make you ready. The fact that you are asking should show you He is working in you.
I did not believe but then He changed me. It took me on my knees asking Him to change me. He was already there when my knees hit the floor.
Thank you Lord Jesus for giving me ears to hear and eyes to see and a heart to love.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
You are “whoever”.
As Christians, we are sometimes asked to defend why we believe what we believe. Many point to their upbringing. Some point to experience. Others say “because the Bible says so.” This doesn’t really help us explain our faith. Should we have to? According to Scripture, yes we should. We should be able to give a defense for our faith.
But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 1 Peter 3:14-16
Roughly 75% of America claims to be Christian. You might be thinking with that large percentage as Christians who are we defending against in the USA? Well, Jesus said “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19. He did not say “just make sure the majority knows who I am.”
We must be prepared to give a defense for our faith. Sometimes this may even be to a person claiming they are Christian or to a Christian who is reborn and has questions. This is why it is not only important we read the Bible, but that we also study it. We must seek what God is telling us in His Word. We can use other tools such as commentary, concordance, and study groups. There is so much depth to God’s Word that it requires more than a glance. It requires more than a one time read. It is designed by God to be a living, breathing, Word that holds truth. It is spiritual food. As a believer we must eat it up. Even Jesus read and quoted Scripture.
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
The One, who we follow as Christians, read and studied the Word of God. As followers, we should too. It should not be a chore. Do not do it because you think it will get you points with God. It won’t. God looks at your heart. Reading the Bible, for believers, is something that should come over you like drinking water. When you get thirsty you drink. You need to drink everyday to survive.
Being in the Word allows you to know how we are to live. How we are to be salt and light. As we read it, it reflects the standard of God and we see how we really are. This is why it rubs people the wrong way when they read it and don’t understand. It shows us our true reflection. I once heard a pastor talk about how some people argue that they are good people and don’t murder or anything like that. The pastor compared that to looking at your reflection in muddy water and saying you look ok. But when you look in a clear pool of water you see how you really are. That is what reading and studying the Bible does. It shows us we are sinners in need of a Savior. We need Jesus.
What does this have to do with defending our faith? Some opposition will attack the Bible with different arguments. Some will call it outdated. Others will say it is sexist, racist, and demeaning. They will say the God of the Bible is mean and doesn’t really value people. People will tell you that the Bible has contradictions. (By the way, this is all stuff I used to say before I was saved.) Being able to answer these and other arguments, is something you may have to do. Will you have all the answers? Probably not. I sure don’t but I welcome the questions. It allows me to study deeper and find these answers. More importantly, it allows me to keep engaging someone in the conversation, and with gentleness and reverence, share the Gospel of Jesus.
One of the best apologetics ( a field of Christian theology which aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defending the faith against objections) you can have is your life. The Irish evangelist Gypsy Smith once said, “There are five Gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian, and some people will never read the first four.” Be salt and light. Live the Gospel in your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to have every aspect. Show kindness and gentleness to all people. This does not mean conform to their ways, but be understanding of their lifestyle and share the Truth with them.
I recently got into a discussion with an atheist whose videos I found on youtube. He has been trying to show me why he doesn’t believe in God and how science has disproved Him. I have been sharing why I believe and how science does not disprove God. It has been interesting and I noticed as we got along in our correspondence it was leading into a heated debate. This was not the intention. So we decided to back off and discuss life topics. We will see where it goes. I just pray I can be true to the Gospel and true to Jesus.
In reference to my opening quote, the Bible truly does not need our defense. We should be able to defend our faith and our belief in Scripture, but the Bible itself, needs no defense. When it is read and studied it will defend itself. It will show you who you really are. It will show you the Truth, the Way, and the Life.
“I choose to believe the Bible because it is a reliable collection of historical documents, written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They report supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies, and they claim to be divine rather than human in origin.” Voddie Baucham
For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:16-21
This past week a friend of mine lost his sister to cancer. I did not know her but he told me she fought hard. She never gave up.
My friend is a fellow believer in Christ Jesus. He gives his life to Christ. As a believer he prayed without ceasing for his sister to win her battle. He talked to his sister about the healing power of Jesus and what faith in Him can do. He even found a church where the pastor had a personal physical healing by Jesus and took her there. He said she began to gain greater strength to fight for her life. In the end though her life on this earth has gone.
After losing a loved one after praying and believing in miracles many would lose faith. Many would turn from God. But my friend is an inspiration. He knows the truth. He demonstrates true faith in Christ Jesus. Instead of turning from God he boldly turns to Him.
At the viewing he said a few words about his sister. He spoke of how he and many other family and friends had been praying for a miracle. He said that many prayed for her life. Then he spoke more truth of how in her battle with cancer he saw her grow closer and closer to the Lord. He saw her faith grow. You see, he knows the truth. He knows the true miracle. He knows the true promise of Christ Jesus. He knows that when we believe in Him we never die but we have eternal life. Life without pain. Life without suffering. Life without cancer.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
While we all prayed for a miracle of her life continuing on earth, another one happened. She came to truly believe in Jesus. We prayed for her to live and now she lives forever. If we believe, we will live forever as well. My friend believes. He will see his sister again.
Some may not see it as a miracle. Some only see miracles as the blind seeing, the lame walking, the dead rising back on earth. Once they see they will believe. But believing is seeing. Jesus didn’t work miracles in his life to draw attention to himself. He worked them for the people who already believed. All throughout scripture there are examples.
They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.” They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat. Mark 5:38-43
I recently listened to a sermon by Alistair Begg about this passage. He had a lot of eye-opening points. The one that spoke to my heart about this loss is that after Jesus heals the little girl He tells those in the room not to tell anyone. This is after He puts out all those who were laughing. Alistair Begg points out that those who were laughing at Jesus, unbelievers, did not get to see the miracle. He said something like, “those who laugh at the words of Jesus don’t get to experience the works of Jesus.”
Again I see that a true miracle did take place in my friend’s sister’s life. She believed and now in her death she finally gets to live.
I pray that his family gets time to grieve. I pray that when they are done grieving, whenever that may be, that joy comes in the morning. I pray that they all see the miracle and they all find their way to give themselves to the Lord Christ Jesus.
To my friend, you are a godly man. Your love and boldness for Jesus is inspiring. Thank you for setting a great example for so many.
I saw how many people your sister touched with her life. I am sure there are many more. She is home now.
Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. John 5:25
There was once a man who really hated Christians. He would do anything to shut them up. He would do anything to keep them from meeting. He would do anything to stop the spread of the Gospel.
This man went on to be one of the most influential evangelists of all time. He started many churches. He wrote almost half of the New Testament. Hard to imagine the same man who was responsible for the death of many believers became the biggest believer.
This man at one point was known as Saul of Tarsus. Jesus chose him to spread His Word. Jesus chose a man who wanted to stop people from believing in Him to bring the Gospel to the world.
Was Paul the perfect choice? Probably not in our minds. Why would Jesus pick a person who had sinned against Him so much?
Some of us feel we are not worthy of God’s grace. Why would he choose us when we sinned against Him? Even if we are already believers we can ask why would He continue to love us when we can’t completely get rid of our sins?
I asked a friend of mine her thoughts on this. She reminded me of the following.
“The Bible says Paul suffered a “thorn in his side” for all of his ministry. I guess this means we may each have one? It doesn’t make our ministry any less important, just means we all have something we may struggle with even throughout our lives that The Lord doesn’t completely take away for whatever reason. We should not think our ministry is not acceptable unless we are perfect, for only He is perfect. Right? So maybe what you feel is beating you down is something you need to continually pray about the same as for me? Paul’s ministry was amazing, God worked so much into the lives of others through him even though he had a battle within himself that the Bible never reveals to us. I think God leaves us wondering, maybe we can put our own battle in there, kind of like fill in the blanks, but still live a life that proclaims the Gospel in a great way. Whether it’s thoughts, perfectionism, or someone else’s something, we need to be like Paul, pray through it, give it to The Lord each morning, and move on to serve in a mighty way.” Rose Jones
Rose really put it perfectly. Saul was not perfect. He had to be blinded to finally see. Even after being born again as Paul he still struggled with sin but persevered in his faith in the Lord Christ Jesus and proclaimed the Gospel to so many.
So I ask you who feel you are not worthy of salvation. I ask you who feel you cannot be forgiven by Christ Jesus. I ask you are you any worse than Paul? This man killed Christians and Jesus knocked him off his horse, blinded him to let him see, forgave him, and he became a great Christian.
To the believer I ask are you struggling with a sin? Are you feeling you don’t deserve the salvation you already have through the grace of Christ Jesus?
Paul struggled. He prayed. Here is how he explained his thorn and how God answered.
“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ESV
If we don’t struggle. If we have all of the answers. If we are perfect then why would we need God? We need God. We need Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior. In our struggles appears the greatest glory of God.
Believers and non-believers remember this: God’s grace is sufficient for us all.
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