Clarity

I thought I knew who Jesus was because I was raised in a Christian home, I went to a Christian school. That did not make me a Christian. Yes, I believed in Him, but I did not love Him more than I loved myself. My life took me through the mud and the mire. The world revolved around me, I didn't feel like allowing Him be King of my life. I wanted to be the king, no one had the right to tell me otherwise and when they did I would shut them out. Yes, I prayed, but did I really believe that Jesus could set my path straight, no I thought only of myself. What could He do for me, not what could He do through me.

My life changed, it took me losing it all, before I really had the answer the question, who is Jesus and is He really who He says He is. I had to step back and look at my life and confess my sins, I had to go back and set straight the life I had lived and turn it over to Jesus Christ. That happened about 5 years ago, even though I knew the scriptures before that, they really didn't mean as much to me as they mean to me now. The more I read, the more I devour and learn, because when I completely surrendered it was no longer about me, but about Jesus who lived in me. I can't say it is an easy road, I am constantly reminded of my past, of the ways I once was, but Jesus has set me free from that and I am here today, because Jesus is my Lord and savior.

So today I ask you this question..

Who is Jesus to you?

Jesus took my shattered life and brought me through it. It was difficult and painful, but without Him I would be nothing, with Him I have everything.

Do you believe that Jesus is really real? You can say Yes, but the Devil also knows that Jesus is real. Do you know that Jesus called you from the foundations of the earth, before there was time? Do you know He plans your days, we have allowed the world to pollute our thinking of what that means, lets say bad things happen, instead of reacting as the world does, use those things to learn from. Don't allow the devil to win, but allow Jesus Christ to win. He wants us to have complete and utter faith in Him. He has us where we are for a reason, maybe I need to stop looking for a reason to leave my job and embrace that I have a job and Jesus is the reason for it. I should be thankful instead of being bitter, I need to be better.

My father in Heaven, is Holy, He is God and He knows how many hairs are on my head, even when they are falling out, He knows each of them. He says He knows when a little sparrow falls (Matthew 10:29), can you fathom that? Because I surely can't. Our God is the God that has placed things before us that He wants to help us with. He knew our human bent to do what is easy, but He says we have to work at how we are, who we are and we have to have complete faith in Him. If I love Him so much, would I do the things that I know breaks His heart? Would I say those words? Would I view the trash that is out there? Would I do the things that I know grieves Him? Jesus said in John 14:15 ""If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever--" It doesn't say when it is good for me, it says if you love me. Because what is Love? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."

When I love Jesus Christ more, I will love others, because I want to honor Him far above anyone else, the more I want to honor Him. I don't want to grieve Him. I think it is so easy to say well, I am saved by grace, what does it matter if I do this or that. But if those things grieve Him, then it should matter to me. In Luke 6:46 Jesus says "“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?"

It is easy to have a complacent Christian attitude that says I can do what I want to do, no one can tell me what to do. The problem with that argument is that Jesus has defined life for us, He has placed guidelines, He has given us examples, He has laid out what He wants and when I do it His way, life may not be any easier, but it makes a lot more sense. If I do it my way, it is all about me and life like that is living as the world. I react because I want to, I do not die to my will and live for Jesus. I live a self centered life. To die to self is so difficult, but Jesus wants us to die to what we want and replace it with what He wants.

Effort

I wanted to share the message that I heard yesterday. I think what the Pastor had to say, is so important to hear. It is easy to think that being a Christian is just being, but there is more to it and I couldn't have said it like this Pastor said it. I think that James McDowell said something in regards to this too. He said "Bad thoughts come naturally, but godly thoughts are a choice that we must make."

I can think that there is something wrong with me if I don't feel like praying, reading the Bible, walking as a Christian should, but the truth is, that being a Christian actually takes being intentional to walk with Jesus Christ. I have to make a choice moment by moment, to put to death human nature and walk as Christ calls me to walk. I think when I am self centered, I focus on what makes me happy, but when I am Christ centered I focus on what make Jesus Christ happy and I am no longer focused on self and in doing so I love better, I pray more, I read more, I trust God completely. God calls us to complete surrender to His will. It can't be about self, it has to be about Jesus Christ in me. His way, not the human desire, but God's desire. Who am I more interested in pleasing? Myself, people or God? I should be more interested in pleasing God than self or others, because in loving God more, I will want to honor Him above anyone else.

Please take the time and enjoy the message.

The message is in the link below, I can't seem to add it here.

#Effort