Included and Protected

 

Included and Protected

Romans 8: ³¹ In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son—will he not also freely give us all things? ³³ Who will accuse God's chosen people? God himself declares them not guilty! ³⁴ Who, then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us! ³⁵ Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death? ³⁶ As the scripture says,

 

“For your sake we are in danger of death at all times;
    we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered.”

 

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“You wouldn’t be welcome there” were the disappointing words of exclusion said to me from my boss. I was warned he struggled with racism, but I hoped he could see something different in me if I treated him with love. After a while, I found myself looking for a job. I was inclined to ask “LORD, why do those who do bad things, seem to ‘win’ all the time?”

 

• There have been some people who told me I would not amount to anything.
• There have been some people who excluded me from their groups.
• There have been some people who tried to slander me, steal from me and lie about me, just to keep me out.

 

Paul says something fantastic. “If GOD is for us, who can be against up?” He explains that GOD allowed HIS own SON to die and be raised for us. Who can then be an accuser if GOD declares us “not guilty?” He then explains that nothing in this world can separate us form GOD’s love.

 

• GOD says to me, “People will try to exclude you from my love but they cannot.”
• GOD says to me, “People will try to accuse you to ME and I said you are not guilty.”
• GOD says to me, “People will try to harm you so you will blame ME, but I AM with you always.”

 

Even liars who mention JESUS in the wrong way cannot separate me from HIS actual love. I mean, there will be groups of people who make JESUS look false and try to insert their philosophy, blinding many. BUT GOD says, “MY sheep hear MY voice.”

 

No lie, plot, or exclusion tactic can separate those who believe in JESUS from salvation. GOD loved freely and will give freely to anyone who believes in JESUS. I am glad HE does not exclude me because of my sins.

 

• Are you being excluded?
• Has someone, who speaks about JESUS, hurt you and caused you to seek other “truths?”
• Will you turn to the path of GOD’s infinite love for you and allow HIM to come into your heart today by believing in JESUS, who will never leave you nor forsake you?

Wandering

Wandering

John 14: ⁵ Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

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Feeling abandoned, I wandered aimlessly, with no place to go. As I tried different ways of having “fun” I still felt empty. In fact, the more, “fun” I had, the emptier I felt. “What’s the point?” I asked. I mean everyone seemed to be going somewhere in life and I had no place to go.

• I felt church people were phony.
• I felt the establishment was against me.
• I felt I had no direction and no one I could trust.

Thomas told JESUS, “We do not know where YOU are going, so how can we know the “way?” JESUS gave Thomas a bigger destination. Life’s journey should be towards the FATHER.

• GOD wants me to understand that my life should point to JESUS.
• GOD wants me to seek HIM daily even in my earthly pursuits.
• GOD wants me to trade in my wandering for that of a life of purpose for HIM.

JESUS is the way, the truth and the life.” Any other philosophy that distracts people from this statement is false. I mean, if I am focused on fixing a certain sin in people without having JESUS in the middle, then it may be a distraction.

JESUS wants to be first and only destination. Some philosophies want food or health or psyche or pleasure or money or human words to be their god. BUT JESUS wants to be the only truth. There is no other way to the FATHER but through JESUS. I am grateful HE came after me when I was wandering.

• Are you wandering through life?
• Does your life have no good direction?
• Will you give your life to JESUS so HE can guide you to a much better place today?

Caregiving

Luke 1: ⁶⁷ Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

⁶⁸ “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
⁶⁹ And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,
⁷⁰ As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been since the world began,
⁷¹ That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
⁷² To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
⁷³ The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
⁷⁴ To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
⁷⁵ In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

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“No one cares” I thought to myself as I sat on my couch. I had been politely dumped from a relationship, I was told I was about to be kicked out of school and I had just got a ticket on my out of commission car. It rained that day.

• There were times when I felt no one cared.
• There were times when I was filled with blame and rage.
• There were times when I felt like giving up because nothing was going the way I planned.

The HOLY SPIRIT spoke through Zacharias’s experiences and observations on life. All of his serving, studying, disappointments and blessings came bubbling out in this exclamation about GOD. He knew who was with him.

• GOD says to me “People will disappoint you but I will never forsake you.”
• GOD says to me “Situations may look difficult at times, but I will always be there for you.”
• GOD says to me “Your enemies may surround you, but I will deliver you from their hands.”

Amazing things kept happening ever since I opened my eyes to GOD. HE shows me how marvelous HE truly is. HE saved me, gave me purpose and protected me from those who meant harm to me. I can serve HIM without fear.

• Do you feel no one cares?
• Are you misunderstood?
• Can you listen to GOD and accept HIS everlasting love for you today?

Why Continue?

Ecclesiastes 6: ¹² For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

“Why continue?” I thought to myself. I don’t mean why continue with life, I meant school was tough and I was not doing very well. I did not have help and did not know how to seek it. I sat in my apartment and wondered if I should even finish.

• There were times when I felt like giving up.
• There were times where I felt like I had no help at all.
• There were times that I felt lost and had no one to guide me.

“Logic” sometimes lies. I mean logically, at the time, said to me, “quit” and I was leaning towards it more and more each day. Life was tough and sketchy and I had calculated the best route was probably to roll over and sit in the corner and just face failure like the rest of the crowd. BUT GOD said something different.

• GOD said to me “All power and glory are mine” and HE will gladly share it with me.
• GOD said to me “I will never leave you nor forsake you” and HE has never left me nor forsaken me.
• GOD said to me “If you would just follow my path I will make it straight” and HE has guided me to this day.

I decided not to give up and GOD blessed me thoroughly. HE guided me little by little and before I knew it, I graduated. HE showed me that I have to seek HIS face for peace and nothing I do would be too large. HIS power is infinite and wisdom the same. HE grants me guidance when I am lost.

• Are you feeling lost?
• Do you want to give up?
• Can you ask GOD to give you guidance?
• Will you follow GOD to gain HIS strength and stop relying on yours?