NOT RELIGION. RELATIONSHIP.
Friend,
People are so tired of religion. Tired of rules. Tired of pretending. But they are starving. I can see why. They are starving for that One, who weeps with them, and then saves them. That's the Jesus I know, and have known, for the last 53 years. Faithful, devoted, truthful, everything you could ever want in a friend. Yet Jesus is not just any friend. He is a [b]perfect friend. He is always wanting the very best for you and always has your best interests at heart.
I know what it's like to want someone like that when you're hurting or grieving or whatever the case may be, because I have been there. I was there when and officer came to my door and told me a drunk driver just clipped the back wheel of my husband's car and it rolled over three times, and threw him out of the car. He witnessed it himself. I watched my husband suffer for 17 agonizing days in the hospital. I saw the agonizing pain. They had to cut him from head to toe so his organs could swell including his head, and my heart broke into a million pieces. And then he died. In that place, religion could not help me. But Jesus did.
I know Jesus weeps and saves, friend. He saved my husband's Soul before he died. That's not religion. That's relationship.
Jesus wept at Lazarus' tomb. Hebrews says we have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses.
The Book of Psalms, a collection of 150 individual poems, songs, and prayers, says God is near to the brokenhearted. I lived that. And Jesus lived that, when he was here on Earth, yet he was without sin. That tells us He is not an unfeeling God, when it comes to us. He experienced everything that we experience, temptation and all, yet He was without sin.
Jesus is not a rulebook. He is a Savior who weeps with us. He bled on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. He died so we could have heaven when we die. He rose again, so death would not have the final word. He did that for you. He did that for me. That is part of God's truths from the gospel.
And here is the best part:
That is the Jesus, I have known more than 53 years, and the Jesus I know now. He never changes, and He is available for everyone in the world, 24/7, should they choose to come to Him. No appointment needed. No perfect words required. Just you, and Him...right where you are.
Anyone can have religion, yet still be lost if their trust is in anything else but Jesus. The Bible says there's no other way to God the Father, except through His son, Jesus, who saves us from our sins, and died on the cross, so we wouldn't miss heaven. No one who comes to Jesus, is ever turned away. John 3:16
If you are hurting today, He is not distant. He is not cruel. He is sitting right beside you, in whatever you may be going through. And He is reaching out His hand to you. Waiting for you.
That is not religion.
That is relationship.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You see us. Thank You that You weep with us and that You volunteered to die on the cross just so we could be saved from the condemnation that sin placed on us.
For every person reading this who is tired and heavy, meet them right now. Show them You are near. Draw them to Yourself. In Your blessed and precious name, Amen.
[/b]
People are so tired of religion. Tired of rules. Tired of pretending. But they are starving. I can see why. They are starving for that One, who weeps with them, and then saves them. That's the Jesus I know, and have known, for the last 53 years. Faithful, devoted, truthful, everything you could ever want in a friend. Yet Jesus is not just any friend. He is a [b]perfect friend. He is always wanting the very best for you and always has your best interests at heart.
I know what it's like to want someone like that when you're hurting or grieving or whatever the case may be, because I have been there. I was there when and officer came to my door and told me a drunk driver just clipped the back wheel of my husband's car and it rolled over three times, and threw him out of the car. He witnessed it himself. I watched my husband suffer for 17 agonizing days in the hospital. I saw the agonizing pain. They had to cut him from head to toe so his organs could swell including his head, and my heart broke into a million pieces. And then he died. In that place, religion could not help me. But Jesus did.
I know Jesus weeps and saves, friend. He saved my husband's Soul before he died. That's not religion. That's relationship.
Jesus wept at Lazarus' tomb. Hebrews says we have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses.
The Book of Psalms, a collection of 150 individual poems, songs, and prayers, says God is near to the brokenhearted. I lived that. And Jesus lived that, when he was here on Earth, yet he was without sin. That tells us He is not an unfeeling God, when it comes to us. He experienced everything that we experience, temptation and all, yet He was without sin.
Jesus is not a rulebook. He is a Savior who weeps with us. He bled on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. He died so we could have heaven when we die. He rose again, so death would not have the final word. He did that for you. He did that for me. That is part of God's truths from the gospel.
And here is the best part:
That is the Jesus, I have known more than 53 years, and the Jesus I know now. He never changes, and He is available for everyone in the world, 24/7, should they choose to come to Him. No appointment needed. No perfect words required. Just you, and Him...right where you are.
Anyone can have religion, yet still be lost if their trust is in anything else but Jesus. The Bible says there's no other way to God the Father, except through His son, Jesus, who saves us from our sins, and died on the cross, so we wouldn't miss heaven. No one who comes to Jesus, is ever turned away. John 3:16
If you are hurting today, He is not distant. He is not cruel. He is sitting right beside you, in whatever you may be going through. And He is reaching out His hand to you. Waiting for you.
That is not religion.
That is relationship.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You see us. Thank You that You weep with us and that You volunteered to die on the cross just so we could be saved from the condemnation that sin placed on us.
For every person reading this who is tired and heavy, meet them right now. Show them You are near. Draw them to Yourself. In Your blessed and precious name, Amen.
[/b]
