Not Perfect—Forgiven

While reading social media posts, I have noticed that when a believer shares the gospel, there are some who react in a hostile manner. At times Christians are accused of thinking they are better than others, and some even question the right of a Christ follower to state their opinion. 

I believe that most of us who serve the Lord do not consider ourselves better than others. Many of us lived broken and empty lives before coming to Christ and are so grateful for the new life we’ve been given. 

I am humbled and thankful that Jesus was willing to take my sins upon Himself and die on the cross so that I could become His and that I could live a life of purpose for Him. 

 

Instead of being offended and reacting negatively on social media, we as believers need to be willing to respond with love. Our message to the world should be, “I am not perfect. But thankfully, I am forgiven. Not because of any goodness in me. Forgiveness came at a high cost—the life of God’s precious Son. And this forgiveness is available to you as well!”

 

Thank You Father for the gift of Your Son. Thank You for new life that is available for all. Please help Your children to be humble, kind, and loving as we share the gospel with others.

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But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. (Acts 20:24, NLT)

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17, NIV)

I Am His Masterpiece

Many times throughout my life I have compared myself to others and have judged myself “not enough.” I think a lot of us are guilty of this. We see someone else’s talents and believe ours are so much less. 

Recently the Lord reminded me that he has given me what I need to fulfill what He has assigned me to do. I don’t need someone else’s voice or someone else’s abilities. I have what God has given me. He has assured me He can use my voice and my gifts to accomplish His will through my life. 

If you’re struggling with the fear of not being enough, let me encourage you. God knew what He was doing when He created you. He didn’t get it wrong. After all, He is the Master! Trust Him to help you be the person He created you to be! 

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For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10-NLT)

God's Great Love!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1)

I love that word—lavished! God has covered us with His love! He has freely poured out his love upon us!

 

Lavish means “to bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities.” In my imagination, I see myself completely covered and swimming in God’s love!

That’s the kind of God I serve. He loves us so much that He gave the greatest gift—His one and only Son to die for us. He has given us new life that we could live a full life now and then live forever with Him!

The world is looking for love—most of the time in the wrong places. God has granted the gift of His love, which is greater than any other love we will ever encounter. All we have to do is reach out and accept it from Him!

Father, thank You for Your great love that You have lavished upon us through Jesus Christ Your Son! 

Are You Ready for Eternity?

I was contemplating life the other day—and death. As I get older, the subject of death seems to enter my thoughts more. Not in a morbid way. Just a realization that it really is going to happen—even to me.

We all experience the loss of loved ones as they leave this earthly life and step into eternity. It is a part of our existence that we cannot escape. My first experience of losing someone really close was when my first husband went to heaven. Death became starkly real in a way I had never experienced before. 

Though thinking about death can be unpleasant, it is something to which we should give attention, no matter our age. God, being omniscient, knows when each of us will leave this world. We don’t.  

There are important decisions to be made before our last moment arrives. We need to make preparations for the family we leave behind. But more importantly, spiritual preparation needs to be made to ensure that we attain eternal life.

Heaven and Hell are real places. And what you decide in the here and now will determine where you go when you die. Your decision should not be put off into a future that you may not have.

The Word of God tells us that becoming a follower of Jesus is the only way to eternal life. Please choose to make Jesus the Lord of your life while you still have the opportunity!

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For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)