Jesus Christ – A Wonderful Savior

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No matter what you have done or what has been done to you… one question remains: What will YOU do with Jesus? He’s done everything possible for you. God loves you dearly, He’s demonstrated that clearly, what else can He do?

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

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

cross-2488005__480The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

My Response

True relationships are reciprocal, they cannot be one-sided only. There is a unique difference between human relationships and one with our Holy Creator. We were born under the curse of sin, therefore relating to God must be through Jesus Christ who has paid the penalty for our sin. There is a choice involved. To ignore His gentle call means by default rejection of Him because the Holy Spirit is continuously calling us unto the Father. His love is bestowed without favor, He loves unconditionally at all times. Only He can know our hearts completely and how to best work in our lives to bring about true and lasting fullness of joy. No human relationship can ever replace the intimacy we can experience with Jesus Christ.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. “ Galatians” 6:7

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23

In God’s loving-kindness, He made a way for us to reciprocate our love to Him. And at His appointed time, God will avenge all evils committed, and only the blood of Christ will protect from the judgment of God. Each soul will stand before Him, naked, without excuse one day. We decide now what our standing (legally) in His courtroom will be. Will you accept the Advocate He provided? Embracing this wonderful Savior is the wisest decision you can make.

Photo Credit/Pixabay: Magnolia/Jose Alba, Cross/Dennis Gries

It’s Your Heart

wooden-heart-3077104__480Have you ever been discouraged wondering if someone would ever change; if you could ever change? Be encouraged, with God ALL things are possible. God offers us solutions for every area of life. Let’s consider the heart of man, and why we are tempted toward those things that can harm us and others.

It seemed Jesus was continually dealing with the religious ones, about their hearts. In Mark 7:6 he responds to a question from the Pharisees, quoting the Prophet Isaiah, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;'” Jesus has a way of revealing our heart and if we seek honestly, we’ll see our great need for Him to continually change us. Only the Holy Spirit living within can give us the power to have a pure heart; it is a gift to be sought after, and a promise from the Father to those who seek Him. No religion can offer a truly transformed heart, only Jesus can.

Man’s heart is the center of all activity. Every issue we face in life is dealt with according to our heart’s desires. Our motives, thoughts, intents, and desires proceed from our inner man — the heart. Scripture indicates this clearly; Proverbs 4:23 tells us to, guard our heart with ALL DILIGENCE; for out of it proceed every issue of life.

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We are told from God’s Word that He can give us a new heart. God provides clarity in His Word in order to bring relief to anyone who is repeatedly struggling with some issue of the heart. He loves to see His people set free from sin and the bonds of the past. Here are truths from God’s Word concerning your heart.

We TRUST from the heart. [1]

God can give us a NEW heart. [2]

The CONTENT of our heart comes out of our mouth. [3]

PEACE can reign in our heart. [4]

God weighs the heart. [5]

We LOVE from the heart. [6]

The IMAGINATIONS of our heart can be darkened. [7]

Our CONSCIENCE can be made clean. [8]

We can LOVE from a PURE heart without hypocrisy. [9]

heart-shape-1714807__480If you want a new heart so that you can function fully in the way God designed for you, ask Him for one.  The first step is to invite the Holy Spirit into your heart. Jesus explained to Nicodemus, a very sincere religious man, how He could be born-again. Read in the book of John to find out more. John 3:1-8 ESV  “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Remember, once you have the life of God inside, knowing God’s Word is part A, applying it to your life is part B. Living to glorify God is how it all works together to produce a full and abundant life (John 10:10).

Photo Credit: Pixabay, My Illustration FHGBC: Chapter 3 Heart Model.

[1] Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

[2] Ezekiel 36:26: a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you and heart of flesh.

[3] Luke 6:45 A good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (ESV)

[4] Colossians 3:15 and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

[5] Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord ponders the hearts.

[6] Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with your entire mind.

[7] Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

[8] Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

[9] I Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: