Before we begin, if you do not understand the title, don’t worry. I’m just divulging my age in a funny way. “Insert Laughing Emoji”
Now, let’s get to it…
“in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it“(John 1:1-5 NKJV)
How many times have you read these verses and skipped right over the amazing power that is in these words? I’ll admit, I was 33 years old when I figured out who the Word was (for context, I just turned 34 this year). I had read John over and over throughout my life and it never occurred to me until I really studied chapter 1 as to who the Word was. It was always so confusing to me. But, folks, let me tell you. The Word is Jesus. Sure, that’s probably common knowledge to most of us, especially to anyone who pays attention, but for me it really cleared up a lot of things for me. It showed me who Jesus is. Not was but is. He is. He was there before the beginning just as He is now. He was right there with God when God set your life into motion. He said yes to you before you were formed in your mother’s womb. Yes, you who doesn’t talk to Him nearly enough, you who goes weeks without reading your Bible, you who is struggling with exhaustion from life and can’t seem to find a reason to keep on fighting, and even you who ignores His existence completely. Jesus said yes to you.
I’ll admit, I’ve done nothing to earn Jesus’ love. He knew nothing I could ever do would be worthy of the reconciliation He made on my behalf, but He did it anyway. Are you reading this thinking “how could anyone love me? I can’t even love myself.” Well, I’m here to tell you that He does. You don’t have to understand it. It probably won’t make sense even if you tried, but you should believe it. He proved that He loves you when He died on the cross. As He was hanging there fighting for every breath, you came to mind. He saw your face. He saw who you would become, and He still chose to die for you. Knowing that you would never be able to earn it. As Jesus hung on the cross, moments from death, He prayed that His Father would forgive us. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots“(Luke 23:34 NKJV). Jesus prayed for forgiveness FOR us as He was DYING for us. Let that sink in. Have you ever prayed for someone who hurt you? I have and it’s a hard pill to swallow. It was at that moment that you and I were set free from our sin; our wages paid in full.
I don’t know about you, but my spirit leaps with joy and gladness when I think about Christ calling me worthy. It humbles me and reminds me that I can’t save myself. It’s exciting to know that the same spirit that rose Jesus from the grave is the same spirit that lives in me. Christ’s death was tragic, but the amazing thing is He didn’t stay dead. He defeated death and hell, so you and I have an opportunity to spend eternity with Him. Note the word ‘opportunity’. That means it isn’t a guarantee. There’s work involved. No, you can’t earn your freedom, but believers are called to action by dying to ourselves daily and taking up our cross to walk with Jesus. You can’t sit in church on Sunday morning expecting to receive something from God when you have been living for the world every other day. It doesn’t work like that. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon“(Matthew 6:24 NKJV).
Christianity isn’t a religion. It’s a lifestyle. Something that we are all the time without fail. There is an enemy out there banking on you thinking a couple prayers throughout the week and church on Sunday morning is enough to get by. It isn’t. The takeaway from this is that Christ died so that you might live, so you owe it to Him to keep your end of the bargain. We were made to have a connection with God, so if there is longing in your heart for something more, ask yourself how your relationship with God is. Would He consider you a friend? Would He tell you to enter in for you have been a faithful servant? Or would He cast you out saying He never knew you? There’s a remedy for those on their way to a permanent separation from Him and that remedy is repentance and faith in Jesus. If that’s something you are interested in, getting right with God, and you want prayer, feel free to send me an email at support@biblebreadcrumbs.com and I will pray for you. I would really love to hear from you, even if you already have a relationship with Christ.
Amber
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