Accepted

Accepted

Acts 15: ⁵ Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

⁶ The apostles and elders met to consider this question. ⁷ After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸ God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. ⁹ He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ¹¹ No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

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It felt like I grew overnight when I put on a pair of pants and they were too short. While I wanted to be taller, now my clothes did not fit. People were already laughing at me about my hair, now this was added. And, with the new height, I looked skinnier. “I’m never going to fin in” I said to myself.

• Many times I have been laughed at.
• Many times I have been on the outside of the crowd.
• Many times I have been the one who was outcast because I did not fit in.

Confusion erupted as some of the believers, who may have been going to church a long time, were part of the political party that had JESUS killed, namely the Pharisees. “Be circumcised to keep the law of Moses” was their stance because humans could easily see evidence of acceptance. Peter spoke against this prejudiced thinking.

• GOD wants me to tell people they are accepted.
• GOD wants me to let people know HE does not discriminate.
• GOD wants me to inform people that HE purifies the heart by faith.

Accepting people just as they are is important to GOD. HE looked at my sin and while I was in the middle of committing the act, HE died for me to take the blame. JESUS accepted my belief in HIM, knowing I would commit sin, over and over.

It is though grace of our LORD JESUS that we are saved. HE wants people to understand they too are accepted, just as they are. I am grateful to be accepted into the loving family of the FATHER, SON and the HOLY SPIRIT.

• Are you outcast?
• Are you seeking to be understood and looking in the places, you know in your heart, that are wrong for you?
• Will you believe in JESUS and be accepted into HIS loving family so you will never be thrown out again?

Accepted or Rejected

Luke 10: ⁸ Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. ⁹ And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ ¹² But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.

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Street witnessing was a scary challenge that I accepted. As I sat in the class and learned an approach, I felt a little more comfortable about the task. “These people need to hear this” was my thought.

When I went out and approached someone in the neighborhood the person said, “Get away from me with that church .” “This is going to be a lot harder than I thought” I said to myself.

• There were times when I went out to speak about CHRIST with the wrong attitude.
• There were times when I went out to speak about CHRIST with a chip on my shoulder.
• There were times when I went out to speak about CHRIST with a “holier than thou” attitude.

JESUS gives HIS final instructions to those HE sent to spread HIS wonderful message. HE let’s them know what to do if they were accepted and more importantly, if they were rejected. HE sent them with a purpose.

• GOD tells me “When you speak about ME, let MY grace be the center of attention.”
• GOD says to me “When you go to and speak to people about ME, have true compassion for them.”
• GOD informs me “Even when you speak humbly about ME, you will be rejected by some.”

“Expect to be rejected just like MY SON was rejected” are the words that one could take away from this passage. But there is more. HE sends me out seeking those who will listen. My attitude for going out needs to be one with compassion and determination.

At the first sign of rejection, I can’t just give up and say “Too bad that person is going to hell.” GOD wants me to view all people around me as a part of “me.” When someone rejects HIS message, it should hurt as much as cutting off a finger. When HE says, “move on” it should feel devastating, yet I must obey. GOD wants me to seek the lost just like HE sought me.

• What is your attitude towards helping people understand who CHRIST is?
• Do you think only a select people “deserve” hearing about the Gospel of JESUS?
• Are you willing to go out and be rejected by some and accepted by others when speaking about GOD’s wonderful grace?

Reject Maker

Matthew 21: ⁴² Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

⁴³ “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. ⁴⁴ Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

⁴⁵ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. ⁴⁶ They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

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Humiliation turned into relief as I was finally picked to play the game on the playground. I was frail but fast. I caught people quickly and soon was recognized as a key player. The next time we played I was actually consulted. “Should we pick ‘that’ person?” they asked. “‘Nah’ let’s get some fast people” I suggested.

• There were times I rejected people.
• There were times I wanted to be on the winning side.
• There were times I my desire to win was placed over my desire to accept.

Instead of bringing others along in the game, I joined in the exclusion. To this day, I do not know who I overlooked because of my short-sightedness. JESUS knows. HE feels those who have been rejected and knows those who have done the rejection.

• GOD made each person special so I should not reject them.
• GOD made each person unique so I should look at each person differently.
• GOD made each person distinct so I should figure out a way to reach their distinction instead of rejecting them because it is too hard.

JESUS was rejected as the “Cornerstone” of the church. Upon this rock the church sits. When I choose to fall on it I am broken to pieces for HIS service. When I reject the use of the Cornerstone, it falls on my feeble plans and they are crushed.

Pastors, preachers, ministers and the priests of the day rejected JESUS. GOD wants me to gravitate towards HIS ways and be broken for HIS purpose.

• Are you rejecting people so that you can fit in the crowd?
• Does your job make you reject people?
• Can you start accepting those GOD sends into your life?

Breaking Barriers

Matthew 15: ²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

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Fear of another race came quite naturally for me. My neighborhood was full of people who looked like me and acted like me. Then high school came. I travelled out of my neighborhood to attend a school where the students were multi ethnic. All of my assumptions about “those” people were challenged.

• Fear of others who did not look like me was a barrier.
• Assumptions of others who did not look like me was a barrier.
• Wanting others to act like me was a barrier.

If I wanted “friends” I needed to change my thinking, quickly! How?

• GOD said to me “I came to save those who are lost.”
• GOD said to me “I came for all mankind.”
• GOD said to me “I came to show you how to love the world.”

JESUS could read the racial and gender barrier easily. HE could see into the hearts of those around the Canaanite woman and leveraged the situation to break down barriers with HIS words and actions. HE wants me to do the same. HE wants me to humbly serve those who do not look or act like me and serve those who do.

GOD wants me to take down barriers to HIM to enable many to follow HIS ways.

• Are you racially blind?
• Do you feel inferior or superior to another gender?
• Can you remove barriers to people coming to CHRIST today?

Being Restored

Ezekiel 43: ²⁵ “For seven days you are to provide a male goat daily for a sin offering; you are also to provide a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect. ²⁶ For seven days they are to make atonement for the altar and cleanse it; thus they will dedicate it. ²⁷ At the end of these days, from the eighth day on, the priests are to present your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar. Then I will accept you, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

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As I pondered this chapter and a few others, I see the exactness of GOD and HIS desire for strict obedience towards HIS laws. But sometimes it seems quite opposite in my life. I mean when GOD says don’t do something, I think “Wow, it sure would be great to do the thing HE just said not to do!”

• GOD gave me HIS SON for atonement for my sins.
• GOD sent me HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live in me and guide me.
• GOD rescued me from sin offerings and became one HIMSELF.

When I imagined the enormity of killing a significant portion of the countries food and sacrificing it to GOD, I gasped. HE made those who had already been in exile do more, as if exile wasn’t enough. HE illustrated how angry HE had become with the sins of the nation and decided to not wipe them off the face of the planet rather to restore them with a little sacrifice to keep them thinking about HIM.

I believe GOD has not changed, though humans have. We do not sacrifice bulls or goats because the SON was the ultimate sacrifice. BUT I still need to admit sin as much as often as I can in order to remain in a place where I recognize the need for GOD.

• Are you in a place where you cannot see or hear GOD?
• Do you feel like you are on the outside of GOD rather than being in HIS love and care?
• Can you confess your deepest sins to HIM and allow HIM to guide you to where HE wants you to be?

HE Will Listen

Psalm 88: ¹ Lord, you are the God who saves me;
    day and night I cry out to you.
² May my prayer come before you;
    turn your ear to my cry.

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Phone staring was no longer my pass time. I had given up the job search and resolved in my mind that I would remain in the “Po-dunk” town I was in at the time. Looking back, the label I placed on the town was my problem. I had a specific lifestyle I was chasing when I looked for a job in the big city and because I wasn’t getting it I began to wonder if GOD loved me. I didn’t want to be around this group of people any longer. I wanted out!

• There are times where I ask for the wrong things.
• There are times in which my desires are centered on “me.”
• There are times where I am blinded by my own ambitions.

With a sigh and a slight pout I got back to work. Soon after I found excitement in serving at the church I was at. I started meeting people and found they were not so bad. In fact they needed GOD just as much as I did. I said I would become a Sunday school teacher there and then my phone rang. It was a job that I had not applied for.

• GOD wants me to want HIM more than I want other things.
• GOD wants me to elevate HIS needs over mine as much as I can.
• GOD wants to serve me so the more I can give to HIM the better our relationship grows.

Admitting my blindness to HIM is the first step. HE is the ONE who saves me from troubles, even the ones I put myself in. I must admit to HIM that I clearly do not know what is right for me so I need HIM to take the helm and guide me. I must place my prayer before HIM and align to HIS ways. The more I am in tune to HIS will, the less I will be disappointed.

• Are you asking GOD for something?
• Is your stubborn will getting in the way of hearing GOD?
• Can you curtail your desires for a minute and ask GOD to reshape them into HIS will for you?
• Will you ask GOD to take you on a new journey?

Start Somewhere

2 Chronicles 29: ¹⁶ The priests went into the sanctuary of the Lord to purify it. They brought out to the courtyard of the Lord’s temple everything unclean that they found in the temple of the Lord. The Levites took it and carried it out to the Kidron Valley. 

¹⁷ They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and by the eighth day of the month they reached the portico of the Lord. For eight more days they consecrated the temple of the Lord itself, finishing on the sixteenth day of the first month.

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“What should I wear?” was the first question in my mind as I had finally made up my mind to go to church. I hadn’t been there in years and I didn’t even know what time it started. I put on a new suit and drove around looking for a church. I had no destination in mind. Yes this was a very pitiful attempt.

I finally came to a church I remembered someone mentioning. There was a crowd standing outside talking with one another. I felt quite nervous about going in. I mean I don’t know these people and I really hadn’t been living a life worthy of church. “Should I go in?”

• There were times where I thought I was too unclean to meet with GOD’s people.
• There were times where I was too embarrassed to go to a place where GOD’s people met.
• There were times where I could not admit I needed to meet with GOD’s people.

I felt my life was a mess and I couldn’t turn back now so I entered the building. I heard the music and the people got up singing in unison to music I didn’t know the words to. I felt out of place and wondered if I should return. BUT GOD intervened.

• GOD said to me “Come as you are because I accept you.”
• GOD said to me “In the middle of your sins I saved you.”
• GOD said to me “MY grace is sufficient and I love you.”

I thought I was going to church to prove something to the people there and there were a few people who were there to measure my faith BUT GOD said ignore them. I started attending various churches regularly and my heart began seeking GOD.  I slowly began the longest journey of my life, the eternal walk with GOD.

• Are you feeling distant from GOD?
• Do you think you are too unclean for HIM?
• Are you trying to hide your true feelings from HIM?
• Can you seek HIM and let HIM guide you step by step to HIM?
• Can you stop looking at the mess and look at GOD?

I declare myself the winner!

2 Corinthians 10: ¹⁷ But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. 18 

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Sitting at the traffic light with my eyes fixed on the red, I prepared to hit the gas the moment the light changed. Of course the driver in the lane next to me didn’t even know they were in a race. Every once in a while my minivan full of people would run up against a person in a sports car who was aware of my tactics leaving me in a cloud of dust. I couldn’t declare myself the winner that time!

• When I think I am better than I am I fall on my face.
• When I believe I am better than other people reality brings me back down to earth.
• When I perceive my performance is better than it actually is then I open myself up for some harsh criticism.

I can rationalize myself to be better than “that” person or “those” people over there simply by setting a goal only I know or comparing myself to people who aren’t doing the things I’m doing. I hand pick my competition and wallop them without them knowing declaring myself “winner.” Then I boast about my achievement.

• GOD enjoys when I point people to HIM and not on my self-declared status.
• GOD loves when I point people to HIM and not on my self-declared accomplishments.
• GOD elates when I point people to HIM and not on my self-declared righteousness.

All that I accomplish needs to be credited to GOD. HE needs to be the one who says “well done my good and faithful servant” based on how I treat others. HE looks at my thoughts and attitude and can easily discern my motives. My bragging should be that GOD is the only one who is “good” and all I have achieved comes from HIM.

• Are you comparing yourself to someone?
• Are you busy looking at your accomplishments thinking you are “good” or “bad?”
• Can you stop comparing and just live for CHRIST at least for today?
• Won’t you brag about what GOD is doing for you instead of trying to be noticed?

Let it go!

John 20:  ²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

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“Won’t these people move faster” was the thought running through my mind as we were slowly exiting the plane. Suddenly an even more impatient man got up from behind me, grabbed his bag, hit me on the head without excusing himself and pushed his way through the crowd. “I hope he’s late” I thought.

• When I look for sins in people I can easily find them.
• When I pick at someone’s scab from the wounds of life blame will flow.
• When I seek to find how “the problem” began in someone we seem to all get wounded.

One strength that is also a flaw is I know healing won’t begin unless there is true admission of sin and wrongdoing. If the person cannot see they have a problem, they will never seek a cure. My problem is that it is easy for me to see the problems in others and difficult to admit problems of my own.

• Forgiving others makes it easier for me to admit my problems to them.
• Forgiving others means I must erase the recording that plays over and over in my mind.
• Forgiving others frees up my thoughts for lovelier peaceful ones.

This is not an easy task for me. Perhaps it’s a defense mechanism or just a major flaw in my character. When GOD told me to “pray for my enemies that they may prosper” I thought HE was crazy, now I understand that grudges are poisonous and even the slightest glance from me will be filled with venom.

My wife asks me the question sometimes, “isn’t that the past, how do we look at the future?” In other words “let it go!” Sometimes it’s necessary to revisit my old wounds to see how they are healing as long as I can let the scab fall off in its natural time instead of picking at them and bleeding blame.

• Is there someone who has wronged you deliberately or by accident?
• Are you still holding onto a grudge?
• How long will you hold onto that grudge?
• Do you realize grudges are immature?
• Can’t you look for the peace that GOD wants you to have by “letting it go?”

You won’t be right no matter what you do.

John 8: ⁵⁷ “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

   ⁵⁸ “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” ⁵⁹ At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

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When I get mad at people it seems like they can’t do anything right in my eyes.  Just ask my wife and kids. It seems there are times when I’m waiting for them to do something wrong rather than catching them in the act of doing something right. What am I missing?

• Expectations of what GOD should do sets HIM up for failure in my mind.
• Expectations of what GOD should solve makes HIM look like HE isn’t listening to me when HE doesn’t do it.
• Expectations of what GOD should give me makes GOD my genie and not my GOD.

The Pharisees knew the Bible very well and walked around telling others how they should live. They were so full of themselves that they could not even see the good right in front of their eyes. They had an expectation of what GOD should be in their mind and were quite disappointed when JESUS appeared.

Love cannot exist when the expectation of the people around me are of “my” perfection.  They just won’t live up to it and inevitably disappoint me.

• JESUS was accused of doing everything wrong but the truth was HE did everything right.
• JESUS was accused of being a demon but HE is GOD and my savior.
• JESUS was accused of being lower than a human but the FATHER has placed HIM above everything.

GOD doesn’t seem to act like I expect HIM to, look like I think HE does nor does HE do things when I expect HIM to. BUT GOD does act in pure love, HIS transformed appearance is glorious and HE is always right on time with HIS plan!

• What expectations are you setting for others in your mind?
• Are the failures in your mind or do you still see the potential?
• Can you drop your accusations about them and help them become the best they can become?
• Won’t you help them see CHRIST through your grace?

GOD wants “you” just the way you are.

John 1: ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

 ⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

   “Come and see,” said Philip.

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My house where I grew up was pretty average but it was light years ahead of where my parents grew up. In fact compared to where they grew up our house was a palatial estate. The school I attended did not crank out graduates who went on to become Pulitzer prize winners but it was fine for me.

Our neighborhood was not on the news for having sent anyone into space or for having someone develop a new radical way to build skyscrapers. So how can anything “good” come out of my neighborhood?

• I have looked down on those who I considered “less fortunate.”
• I have categorized others as being poor and dirty so therefore they must not be intelligent enough to get themselves out of “the mess they are in.”
• I have avoided people who did not look like me or act like me and put people into large buckets.

It’s funny, how I treated others was how I was being treated. The people of wealth could care less about me or my neighborhood, BUT GOD cares.

• GOD made me unique.
• GOD gave me specific, special abilities.
• GOD made me in a way that I and I alone can reach a specific group of people HE sent to me.
• GOD doesn’t care where I came from but HE is concerned about where I am going.

Since the beginning of time GOD has used the highly underestimated. HE took weak, feeble, uneducated people and made them stand above kings and those who are extremely credentialed. GOD makes fools of the arrogant, self-proclaimed genius by favoring the humble and the meek.

Can anything good come from my neighborhood? Yes! Anyone who is GOD’s child is extremely gifted and talented just the way HE made them.  In fact when I think someone is stupid I’m actually calling GOD stupid for making them the way they are. GOD wants me to believe I can do HIS work just as I am and HE wants me to accept others “just as they are.”

• Are you trying to change “that” person?
• Do you consider yourself special?
• Can you realize GOD made you specifically to reach a person only “you” can reach?

I can’t see you my assumptions are in the way!

John 1: ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

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“I’m late and this guy isn’t here” I thought to myself. I waited in the hotel lobby and there were only a few people. “I’m sure a man of his wealth would be on time because he has to be a busy person” I surmised.  

A guy dressed like a wrinkled farmer caught my eye and said my name. “Are you looking for me?” he politely said in a calm tone. “I watched you for ten minutes but I wasn’t sure you were looking for me” he said.  “This is the guy who makes $2 Million a month; you’ve got to be kidding?” I thought.

• How many angels who were dressed as a person in need have I passed?
• How many people who I assumed didn’t “deserve” my help have I turned down?
• How many names have I conjured up for those who annoy me or have gotten in my way?

Assumptions are little packaged expectations wrapped in prejudiced and ignorance. GOD operates with “fact” and I never have to assume anything about HIM.

• JESUS came to Earth as a human to HIS chosen people who rejected HIM.
• JESUS, who is GOD, volunteered to die for the sins of all humans no matter how heinous the sin.
• JESUS knocked on the door of my heart and it was up to me to let HIM in

Sometimes I expect GOD to speak to me in a loud echoing voice and appear with some sort of blinding light. I think HE is going to give me some strange, yet specific, message to drop everything and go on some wild pilgrimage. I keep waiting but all these needy people keep interrupting!

• GOD wants me to help the needy, that’s how HE is speaking to me.
• GOD wants me to deliver HIS message of deliverance, that’s how HE shows HIS love.
• GOD wants me to keep my heart soft for others so HE puts me in circumstances that enable me to empathize.

When I assume how GOD is going to work, I am usually wrong. I look for HIM in the wrong places and I definitely mistake how HE is going to guide someone’s life. But when I don’t assume and accept HIS plan, HE never disappoints me!

• Are you trying to manipulate GOD into getting your way?
• Do you assume that since you are following HIM things would be better?
• Are you willing to follow GOD even if it means “that” person would leave you?

Who is my family?

Mark 3: ³⁴ Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

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Arguments ensued as the discussion over my grandmother’s house was the topic. Several uncles and aunts were ready to disown family members, especially those who stepped up and paid for the property. I was caught in the crossfire and I fully understood this passage of scripture.

• Once I accepted CHRIST I joined a new family.
• Once I believed I needed to be rescued by JESUS I joined a new family.
• Once I acknowledged JESUS as GOD who died for my sins I joined a new family.

Over the years I have heard about mothers trying to kill their kids, fathers walking out on families, brothers attacking each other sisters hurling insults at each other. If the hate runs that deep then they aren’t family. 

Personally I have hundreds of sons and daughters who are not my flesh and blood relatives rather they are my relatives through JESUS who unites us. I have several earthly mothers and fathers but we all have one HEAVENLY FATHER.

• Those whom I serve or who serve me are my family.
• Those who sincerely call on the name of the LORD are my family.
• Those admit they are sinners rather than those who pretend to be perfect are my family.

I have family members I have met from all over the world in various races and denominations of worshipping GOD. This is a great family!

• Are you feeling left out of your family?
• Do you need to be accepted?
• Have you tried JESUS and HIS family?
• Are there some in the church who do not act like your family?
• Are you acting like a family member of GOD or are you starting or causing problems?

Aren't you glad you "found it."

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Luke 15: 1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'

7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

The Parable of the Lost Coin
8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'

10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

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I like to receive thank you's and pats on the back. At work I won a ton of awards and received recognition for doing some spectacular thing. In the community I received praise, plaques and prizes. None of what I received compares to the cheering and praise a person receives when the stop rejecting JESUS.

I sometimes get side tracked into thinking my existence is for work or school or whatever I'm doing at the moment. I pour myself into "that thing" for a while and I come home exhausted. I do this over and over until I need a vacation because I am burnt out.

While I am going on with my life, I don't notice the people around me who are dying. I'm not talking about physical death, I'm speaking about eternal death. People who reject JESUS as their savior are pursuing an eternal destiny of separation from HIM.

GOD wrote HIS laws in every humans' heart and I believe it is the rejection of what we already know that causes mankind to go to Hell. GOD does not take chances on losing HIS humans. HE took measures that would ensure "every" human could be saved.

It's amazing what HE did. HE gave me free will and saw that I would not choose HIM. HE then came to earth as a human and died in my place. HE saw every sin that I would ever commit and HE accepted me anyway.

• GOD accepted me when I lied.
• GOD accepted me when I stole.
• GOD accepted me when I lusted.
• GOD accepted me when I was lazy.
• GOD accepted me when I doubted HIM.
• GOD accepted me when I demanded that HE do something outside of HIS will.

My sins are forgiven because I no longer reject who JESUS is and what HE has done. Unfortunately there are a lot of humans who know this concept and reject it. "How can they know it?", you say. Again, GOD took precautions and wrote HIS law on every heart. My purpose is to be an example and a testimony to GOD showing humans HE accepted me in the middle of my sins.

I now have to tell people that HE accepted me without being cleaned up. People around the world have heard me tell them to accept not reject CHRIST. This is the most important thing I can do in life.

This purpose is for all Christians. All of us are to tell our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances about GOD's great acceptance. We should all be looking for the lost because we were found.

• What is your purpose in life?
• Do you think your work or school is more important than keeping someone from rejecting CHRIST?
• Is your relationship more important than keeping that person from rejecting CHRIST?
• Would you rather keep a friend on earth and watch them reject CHRIST and go to Hell?
• Is there someone you can seek to "find" today?

Why is it so hard to believe in JESUS?

Mark 16:9When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

12Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

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I believed that CHRIST was my savior at the age of 12, a few years ago. My reason was because I didn't fit in. Kids in my grade would tease me for my tattered clothes, messed up hair and Clark Kent glasses. Adults seemed to lack direction and my future seemed uncertain.

I heard about JESUS from my parents, but they had their own distractions. Then one day I felt the need to believe in HIM. I can't explain that any better. I went sobbing down the middle of the church toward the preacher as he called for those who believed in JESUS.

I pondered my decision over the years and one thing I realized is I needed someone who would accept me for who I was, not who they wanted me to be. JESUS did just that. HE accepted me in tattered clothes, messed up hair, Clark Kent glasses and skinny body.

I never saw HIM, but I sure felt HIM. But the disciples did see HIM. They walked with HIM for three years and saw all kinds of awesome miracles, yet they did not believe when they were told HE had risen, just as HE said.

I thought about this story and asked," how could they not believe?" I mean HE walked on water, fed thousands of people from scraps, healed countless people and HE raised people from the dead. What's not to believe? Crazy disciples!

Then I looked at my life. There have been many times I didn't believe. I doubted GOD would rescue me out of the situation I was in. I thought HE would not forgive me for "this" sin or "that" sin. I thought HE was punishing me harshly when all along HE was loving me and steering my direction.

Humans have the tendency to try to take control of their lives and situations. We believe that JESUS died for our sins, yet we don't believe HE has the best route for our lives. We pray to steer GOD instead of praying to ask "LORD, what do YOU want?" I have done this many times.

• Belief in GOD means I know, "HE knows" the best path for my life.
• Belief in GOD means I can accept the path HE has me on.
• Belief in GOD means I am not embarrassed or ashamed of being an example for GOD.
• Belief in GOD means I "know" that I "know" HE loves me with infinite love.

It's amazing that JESUS never gave up on the disciples. I mean HE walked with them day and night, yet they didn't believe. It seems like HE would have thrown up HIS hands and walked away frustrated. HE did tell them about their lack of faith, but HE does something remarkable, HE entrusts them with the most important task of telling the world about HIM.

JESUS never, never, NEVER gives up on those who believe in HIM. HE takes people like me who doubt HIM daily and tells them to simply spread HIS great news of acceptance and redemption. Now that's hope.

• Do you believe?
• Are you stuck in steering GOD or steering others?
• Are you afraid of being an example of GOD?
• Have you believed in CHRIST and doubted?
• Does GOD's messages offend you? Why?