I would like to wish everyone a happy and spirit-filled 2013! And, thank you for your fellowship during the previous year. Since we are starting fresh, I thought it would be a good idea to begin with a message regarding our relationship with the Lord. Whether you are a new believer or a mature disciple; it is always beneficial and rejuvenating to reflect on why we chose to follow Him.
Peter was told by the Lord to follow Him. Instead of responding, "Lord, by Thy grace I will," he seems to have been occupied with his fellow-disciple John. "Lord, and what shall this man do?" he inquired.
Answering him our Lord said, "What is that to thee?" And He added, making it more definitely personal, "Follow thou Me." Let us not look upon others when we should be looking on our Lord.
Whatever the other man may be called to do, and whether he does it or not is not our business (though we should seek to help others by example and precept). Our business is to follow our Lord for ourselves. -I. F., in Scattered Seed.
When you made that decision and invited Jesus into your life, it is important to know, did God hear you? Yes. Jesus promised that He would enter our lives, if we ask Him.
In Revelation 3:20 Jesus makes this offer, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Did you open the door of your heart to God? If so, what did He say He would do? Would God mislead you?
First John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
In John 6:37, Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out.” And in John 10:27-29 Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, so that we could be in relationship with Him. He’s not indifferent to the issue. He went to great lengths to bring us into relationship with Him. Jesus took our sins on Himself and covered us with His righteousness, making us fully forgiven and fully accepted by Him.
We don’t have to first live good lives, or perform religious rituals, or spend years begging Him. God is the one who made it possible for us to have a relationship with Him. And we come to Him based on what He did for us, rather than what we can do. He paid for our sins, in order to forgive us and come into our lives. First Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
To get to know God better, spend time in His word (the Bible) asking Him to reveal more of Himself to you and for Him to build your relationship with Him. The Gospel of John (fourth book in the New Testament) is a great place to start.
And talk to Him freely. We are encouraged to “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6,7)
Scripture: Hebrews 13:8; Luke 10:27; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 John 2:3-4; 1 Peter 2:21; John 16:13; Matthew 11:28-30.
Now, let's pray...
O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen
Until next time...
Have a blessed week!
Bibi
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