Too often I’ve rejected Jesus
Throughout my long life, I have walked my own ways too often, sinned way much… rejected Jesus somehow. Seventy-one years of it, and counting. A lot.
I find healing from that by looking to Jesus. I pray, find His grace, find healing. I feel healed.
I identify with the Psalmist. I pray, Oh my God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
“Have mercy on me, O God…. I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; My sin is always before me.”
– Psalm 51
The hurting pain is soon replaced with knowing that Jesus forgives me. Jesus calls me to repent, turn from – turn to… and be at rest in Him. He has forgiven me of all my sins. He replaces shame and fretfulness with His absolute acceptance. I continually practice “putting on the new”. See: Ephesians 4.
“…put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, 23 and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], 24 and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].
– Ephesians 4:20-24
See: | Peaceful Easy Feeling |
| When I find myself in times of trouble, I turn to Jesus |
| Put on the new |
The Damning God
is first and foremost –
The Forgiving God
See: | What God asks of us in the Bible |
| God is my Refuge and Strength |
What’s hurting inside you?
Acts 3:26 “It was for you first of all that God raised up His Servant and Son [Jesus], and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
On many levels, we all struggle with what Scripture calls sin, “wicked ways“. We want to negate that kind of talk. Just say: “That’s just the way I am”. “I’m not a bad person”.
But God says differently. The The Entrance into the Eternal is not based on our preferences. We are actually failing Him.
We are all in a state where we fall short of His Kingdom standards (Romans 3:22-25). Think more like God thinks, and how He is “perfect”. That in you to do? Not by a long shot.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.”
– Isaiah 55:8
God’s grace and mercy can bring us to the state of “declared forgiven”, made perfect in the spiritual realm. What will it be for you?
* Some of us negotiate with God in our conscience, thinking that we can go about just as we are, “balancing out my faith with my practice“.
* Some of us grow comfortable with our sin. We give-in to it. We work-up loopholes with God’s Word… so that we can claim a sin as God’s will for us. It’s like: “Whew! What a relief to get that settled.”
* Some of us develop a faith contrary to Scripture, as if our mindset is protected by God – because we figured it all out.
* Many of us slip into self-righteous attitudes, condemning others. It’s easy to be blind to pride and unloving ways. (James 4:6)
Instead of accepting sin,
** God says change the way you live.
** God says Do justice, be kind, walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8).
** God says humble yourself in the sight of the Lord (James 4:10; 2 Kings 22:19) He opposes the proud. (James 4:6; 1 Corinthians 5:2; 2 Corinthians 5:12; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Peter 5:5)
** God says repent (James 4:4-10)
Christians are easy targets when hurt people need to blame someone else somewhere for their angst. About His followers Jesus said “they will know you by your love” (Matthew 22:37-39). So when Christians are anything but loving… they draw the blamers.
I’ve asked myself this question over the years: Are you known by your love?
No love there
Christians in general catch a lot of criticism for how their churches and pewsitters treat others. A lot of biting put-downs, condemning, and gossip going on.
A lot of hatred, condemnation, anger, “righteous indignation”, gossiping, finger-pointing, cold shoulders… mingle in Christian gatherings.
That ought not to be. But it is, and so our inability to follow the exhortations in Scripture… brings-on ridicule of Jesus.
This sick world weighs on us, for sure. And we long for Heaven to begin, sooner than later. But we must be waiting for it.
There is a very real reality of incompleteness on earth. It helps me to more quickly forgive myself and everyone around me — by recalling this. I am too often quite the dumbass lamb, a needy needy soul… still incomplete at this time.
“Forgive me. God is not finished with me yet!”
I work with Jesus to work-out His grace in my living.
2 Corinthians 5:4-5
4 For while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened [often weighed down, oppressed], not that we want to be unclothed [separated by death from the body], but to be clothed, so that what is mortal [the body] will be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection].
Followers of Jesus are the “restrainers” of evil (See: Half-a-Day Without the Holy Spirit), “holding back the years of time” (Holding Back the Years, song by Simply Red). And yet, there is guiltiness there also. A lot.
The self-righteous Christians
We are condemned by latimes.com writer LZ Granderson as being absent when sinners look for healing in our churches. Granderson empathizes with a pastor who shot himself when outed as homosexual:
“…you never know what people are privately dealing with, especially in places of worship, where heartache comes to find healing.” – latimes.com writer LZ Granderson
Is heartache
finding healing
in your local church?
The story unfolded around November 1, 2023. A media outlet outed a gay pastor, F.L. “Bubba” Copeland Jr. The despondent pastor shot himself just days later.
So Former Alabama Senator Doug Jones criticized the media, and then puts the blame on Christians in general, saying in his social media:
“we live in a mean and bitter world where the self-righteous tend to throw the largest stones.”
The love of God
Are you finding healing? Do you have “the love of God” in you as you walk the straight and narrow? How about …love shown – doing love for those who are deeply into another path, the difficult, the hateful, the outcasts? Jesus knows your heart.
Come to Me
Jesus saves us when we come to Him in repentance with truth and sincerity of heart. He will not save us because of our love and tolerance of others. He saves us because we turn to Him for His grace. Then His love constrains us to love others and tolerate their difficult ways.
“…you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people; 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not [r]receive Me….” – John 5:40-43
What He requires of us
Micah 6:8 Amplified Bible
8 He has told you, O man,
what is good;
And what does
the Lord require of you
Except to be just,
and to love
[and to diligently practice]
kindness (compassion),
And to walk humbly
with your God
[setting aside any overblown
sense of importance
or self-righteousness]?
“Paul exhorts me (us) to work with The Potter (Isaiah 64:8; Romans 9:21). Each day He molds me and makes me more and more of what I uniquely should be in Christ.
“Be what you should be” (v11) and enjoy spiritual well-being here, now, Paul says. And when God calls me home, some sweet day — then I’ll reach my final destination!” – Source: Put on the new
TOP PIC Credits: Pete Garcia’s cursed-generation from Rev310.net
FOR MORE:
Jesus is our only hope
Jesus is our only hope to rid our inner self of the hate and injustice in our hearts. We can be justified before God only because of Jesus’ sacrifice.
See: Romans 3:21-26.
“22 This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son].”
Have you “come to Jesus”(John 5:40-43)?
The reality of incompleteness on earth
Act in love towards all people
Do justice, be kind, and walk humbly with your God – Micah 6:8
Being friendly, cordial, and gracious
Racism is an evil to personally resist
Doing one act of love at a time
As if your mindset is protected by God
Balancing out my faith with my practice
Claiming a sin as – God’s will for you
God forgives all wrongdoings of all repentant sinners, no exception
Entrance Granted Into The Eternal
Blessed by forgiveness by The Hand of God our Savior
What God secures – you cannot lose
Waiting for it…Christians have been waiting for Jesus so long
Excerpt: Back in time, around 33 AD, Jesus promised He would return to earth. Christians have been waiting for Jesus so long – almost 2,000 years! What?! We so much want Jesus to return today. He says: Wait for it.
Jesus has “delayed” His return, He said (2 Peter 3:9), in order to give more time for sinners to repent and find salvation (Romans 2:4). If you are still under condemnation from God (Mark 16:16) on the day that Jesus returns… then you will miss out big-time. So He waits.
God wants us all to be saved. God wants every one of us to repent and turn to Him – before death, before the Rapture. Is He waiting for you?
Half-a-Day Without the Holy Spirit
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