The Bottom Line.

Your life is what you make it. Let Jesus bring you into His life, and watch as something you never thought was real, happens. 

Colossians chapter 3 verses 12-15.

Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of His deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others. Do not worry about making a good impression on them, but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently. Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Most of all let love guide your life, for then the whole church will stay together in perfect harmony. Let the peace of heart which comes from Christ always be present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of His body. And always be thankful.  

Wow talk about going against the way you have been living up to now. You do not want to be a push over, someone who gets taken advantage of because of a soft heart. You have always had to fight for yourself. You are the one who had to put your foot down, make harsh decisions and maybe raise your voice in order to be heard. 

   You are the one who said you did not want to do this or that when asked for help. You are the one who thought that where you are, is the best place you could be. You have been burned in your past and no one is going to do that to you again. 

   The word that seems to be repeating itself here is "You" The bottom line is not "You" but others. You woke up this morning and someone did something for you. Maybe they served you coffee, maybe they held a door for you, maybe they did something for you that you never thought anyone would go out of their way to do. 

   Maybe you do have a serving heart but do not know of Jesus. Maybe you do not know because you do not want to know. Whether you are rough around the edges or not, it does not matter. God loves all of us. You may think you have it all together but all of us have our secret hidden thoughts. The ones that make us vulnerable and restless. 

   In 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 1-4 it is suggested that we get rid of those feelings of hatred. It says" Do not just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty and jealousy and talking about others behind their backs. Now that you realize how kind the Lord has been to you, put away all evil, deception, envy and fraud. Long to grow up into the fullness of your salvation; cry for this as a baby cries for milk. Come to Christ, who is the living foundation of Rock upon which God builds; though men have spurned Him, He is very precious to God who has chosen Him above all others.

   Living this way really challenged me. I was not used to someone telling me how to live and that I needed to get along with others. I knew what it meant to work hard and to look out for my back, but to help and serve, I was going outside my box. I had to learn, because I wanted the life Christ was offering me. It is freedom, peace and contentment. It is joy forever. 

   I took one step at a time. First I prayed, then I read the bible and then I headed out for my day. Where would it take me and what was ahead of me? I did not know but I trusted Jesus to be with me. It may have been the same job, it may have been surrounded by the same friends or co-workers, but this time it was different. I was not doing this for me, no longer alone but with Christ who lifted me up and gave me salvation. 

   I found out what the bottom line is. It is totally different than anything I would have thought. Can you imagine speaking words that were just right at the right time? Or your work giving you praise for a job well done, maybe even a well deserved raise, which came unexpectedly. All your worries about addictions and bad relationships finally leaving your thoughts as you walk in joy. 

   The bottom line? Jesus has brought salvation into your life and you cannot worship and praise Him enough. You want to shout, but you find yourself being humble and ready to share your new found joy with those who knew you before and are curious about the changes. 

   There is God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We are filled with the Holy Spirit, who is God and Jesus with us always. Jesus says in John chapter 14 verse 26, "But when the Father sends the Comforter instead of Me---and by the Comforter I mean the Holy Spirit---He will teach you much, as well as remind you of everything I Myself have told you." 

   The bottom line is the change that happens to you and the joy that bursts from you because Jesus has come into your life. 

   Thank You Father for Jesus. Thank You for giving us what we needed at just the right time so that we can see and always know that it is You whom we praise for Your saving grace. 😊    

    

Psalms chapter 37 verses 23 and 24.

The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. If they fall it is not fatal, for the Lord holds them with His hand. 

Psalms chapter 48 verse 14.

For this great God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide until we die.

Hebrews chapter 4 verse 14.

But Jesus the Son of God is our great High Priest who has gone to heaven itself to help us; therefore let us never stop trusting Him.  

Psalms chapter 37 verses 25 and 26.

I have been young and now I am old. And in all my years I have never seen the Lord forsake a man who loves Him; nor have I seen the children of the godly go hungry. Instead the godly are able to be generous with their gifts and loans to others, and their children are a blessing.