Being saved.
John chapter 10 verse 9.
Jesus said to them; "Yes, I am the Gate. Those who come in by way of the Gate will be saved and will go in and out and find green pastures."
We all have an idea what it means to be saved. Someone or something has come in your way and is there to help, trying to lead you.
It is up to you whether you take hold and accept their offer of help. In most cases we do accept their help because it is just what we need at just the right time. There can be twists to accepting the help though. It could be that you do not want the help from that particular person, or object. Maybe you do not trust that you are being led in the direction you want to go.
There is also the fact of confusion and disorientation. You are in need of help, but your reasons for accepting the help are selfish. You only want a quick fix. You are guarded and hesitant. You want the place of peace that you knew of before. Yet you are aware that it was not the most restful and peaceful place. It was confusion.
You do not know God. You do not know Jesus. You have heard good things about them but they have not been your place of calling before. Your options have come to the point where you have thought of them. Maybe you should try calling out to God, you have been worn down by seeking after others and false leads.
1 John chapter 5 verse 18 says, "No one who has become part of God's family makes a practice of sinning, for Christ, God's Son, holds him securely and the devil cannot get his hands on him."
We are here only for a short visit. Being happy and content is something we all deserve. Finding that on our own can be very frustrating, leaving us unsatisfied and restless. God has always been with us and is available to everyone. His promises are true. Have you seen Him? Are you able to touch Him?
Jesus made some pretty spectacular claims and the crowds followed Him for His healing, and unbelievable miracles, yet they crucified Him. God is personal. He wants you to praise Him and be thankful to Him for what He does in your life.
You have had an exciting encounter with Him and it feels so real. Now you have to deal with what has happened. It is like receiving an unbelievable gift that you want to show off. Will others understand? God was not there before and many of those you hang around, work with and interact with daily have never said anything good about God. You do not know their beliefs but you have heard them talk about church going folks. They have mocked them, judged them and are critical of how they live.
You are sitting on your hands, holding your tongue, ready to burst. You try to make the best of fitting in. You want to praise God and worship Him with your thankful heart. You know you are not the only one and you know that you are not the first. There is a huge family of God who all have personal relationships with Him and they gather together and worship God in songs. They listen and learn from the Scriptures and share their the stories of God who has touched their lives with Jesus.
They are real. It happens everyday. There is prayer to an unseen God and gatherings for reading and learning from the Scriptures followed by discussion and shared experiences. Where have you been? Why have you not got involved in any of this before? The answer is simple, you have had no reason to.
Money and greed are exciting and fun while they are going your way, but when things are not so good then foolishness sets in. Making daring investments and on the spot decisions. Alcohol and drugs can be a moment of happiness that block out the current events. They can also quickly pull you into a reoccurring habit that is sought after, leaving you with the feeling that it is necessary.
Years of your life can be lost to worry, anxieties and depression. But they can also be fought against. God can do miracles to you, because of what Jesus did for us. First you seek after God and show Him that you are serious about coming to Him for help. Then God will show you Jesus and you will find out that He has known all along that you would come to Him, He has just been waiting for you to see Him and believe that He can help you.
That is when your new life will begin. The old ways will become past stories and the new is filled with joy, praise and worship to God for Jesus. It all sounds so good, like the life that you would really want, but for some reason you fight against it.
The attractiveness of life without God seems to be the pull that binds us. Proverbs chapter 20 has many verses that talk about the way we live and it's affects upon us. Verse 13 says, "If you love sleep, you will end up in poverty. Stay awake, work hard and there will be plenty to eat! Verse 14 says, "Utterly worthless!" says the buyer as he haggles over the price. But afterwards he brags about his bargain!
Verse 15 says, "Good sense is far more valuable than gold or precious jewels." Verse 16 says, "It's risky to make loans to strangers!" Verse 17 says, "Some men enjoy cheating, but the cake they buy with such ill-gotten gain will turn to gravel in their mouths."
Verse 12 says, "If you have good eyesight and good hearing, thank God who gave them to you."
Are you happy? Then stay the course that you are on. You can get through the troubles and costly mistakes. So far your health is ok. You are not depressed or too angry. You seem to get over anger quickly and hold on tight to what little you have.
What kind of happiness is that? Always looking over your shoulder and trying so hard to stay ahead. Don't you get tired and worn down? Have you lost out on that good thing because you were sick or sleeping? There is actually a better way to live. And it is free from confusion, addictions and worry.
God sent Jesus so that we can have another way. The choice we need. Don't fight it! Try it! God can change your life. In John chapter 14 verse 6, Jesus says, "I am the Way---Yes, and the Truth and the Life."
The Truth is Jesus and the Life is what happens when Jesus comes to you. Proverbs chapter 20 says, "The character of even a child can be known by the way he acts---whether what he does is pure and right."
1 Corinthians chapter 13 verses 11 and 12 say, "It's like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I became a man my thoughts grew far beyond those of my childhood, and now I have put away the childish things. In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at His reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see Him in His completeness, face to face. Now all that I know is hazy and blurred, but then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now."
Our lives are challenged everyday, thank God for Jesus. He is the one who has come and lifted you up and He is the one who walks with you now and forever. Talk to Him and bring everything to Him everyday and all day long. You will see how He touches your life and how much you love and appreciate all He does for you.
Thank You Father for Jesus. Thank You for our thoughts of You, that have led us to talk to You and find what we have been missing. 😊
Psalms chapter 40 verses 1-3.
I waited patiently for God to help me; then He listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. Now many will hear of the glorious things He did for me and stand in awe before the Lord , and put their trust in Him.
Romans chapter 7 verses 24 and 25.
The apostle Paul said, "So you see how it is; my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I'm in! Who will set me free from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free."
1 Chronicles chapter 28 verse 9.
Solomon, my son, get to know the God of your fathers. Worship and serve Him with a clean heart and a willing mind, for the Lord sees every heart and understands and knows every thought. If you seek Him, you will find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will permanently throw you aside.
Very powerful. God bless you.
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