“I have chosen. Jesus, into your righteous hands I place my soul. I have been saved by your sacrifice. My path is lavish in your grace. You’ve changed the course of my life forever.”
T. Garafola You know, one of the things I love about Christianity is that you are not bullied into blind belief. Christ doesn’t want you to walk with Him with your eyes closed. He wants you to ask questions. He wants your trust and love. He wants you to see Him for what He is, a spectacular gift from God. I’ve been asked, if Jesus were the Son of God why would He allow Christ to die in such a heinous way? If you’re not sure, let me try to explain. We are all children of God. From the moment we come into this world kicking and screaming, to the very moment we exit it, we are the children of God. It doesn’t matter where you come from, where you’ve been. It doesn’t matter the color of your skin, nor does it matter what sex you are. God does not discriminate. He doesn’t love you less because you don’t fit in societies mold of what you should look like. God does not care what man made religion you have chosen to follow. He certainly does not want you to be harmed, especially, in His name. To God and Christ, you and I are His beautiful children. The Lord does not want us to suffer; He does not want to condemn us but as any parent would, He has commanded us to follow His rules, thus the 10 commandments and the Holy Bible. Jesus is not a fictional character, He is not a prophet, He is the Son of God. Plain and simple, God told us that Jesus is the way to Him. John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” I’ll give you a super brief overview but as always, speak with a pastor and read from your Bible. Just as what we see happening now, humanity fell away from God. They were deceived by Satan and began worshiping false idols. Hay, they don’t call him the great deceiver for nothing. The devil knows what tickles our fancy; he knows how to tempt us and does a good job to-boot! We first became separated from God back at the Garden of Eden. Later, as the world plummeted into chaos, God cleansed the earth and gave us another try. But then we did it again; the world turned it’s back on God, so… He sent us His Son. Jesus taught His disciples and commanded them to share their knowledge so that others could be saved too. Those who feared the changes feared Him and accused Christ of blasphemy, demanding He be crucified. God knew they would sacrifice His Son but as He always does, God never allows suffering to go without purpose. By the sacrifice of Jesus, we were given the amazing opportunity to be reunited with our Creator, God. Christ died on the cross for all of us; even those who deny Him and His father. How do we know this? The Bible is not a fairy tale. It isn’t a collection of stories meant to frighten people into submission (as it’s often said). It is, in fact, a collection of books written by the prophets who witnessed the wonders and works of God Himself and His Son. When you reach out to Him, the Lord is there. Why should you believe in God you may ask? I say to you, why not? You have everything to gain! Think of it this way, if I believe in God, and I’m wrong (He doesn’t exist) then I’ve lost nothing. I’ve lived a good life. I’ve respected others. I’ve loved others as I wish to be loved and lived believing whole-heartedly that there is something more to this existence than me. I had faith that comforted me through my darkest hours. But, if I chose not to believe and I was wrong... I have a whole lot to worry about when I stand before God in judgment. It will cost me everything. Is the life of a Christian easier? Nope, it’s not easy at all but we have an amazing support system! Regardless of how society ridicules us, regardless of how foolish they say we are, God does exist; Christ is the way to heaven and the very best part of it all, They want us back. They don’t care about where we’ve been. They do care where you are going... Are you ready to give your heart to Christ? Then do it right now, don’t let another moment go by. You can talk to the Lord right there from your chair, go ahead, He’s waiting for you. There’s no need to fear or to be embarrassed. Speak what’s on your mind or if you need a little help… “Dear Lord, I’m ready for you. My heart is open, and my spirit is willing to receive you as my Lord and Savior. I’m here and ready to run into your open arms. Jesus, I know you gave your life for me, and I thank you with all that I am. Please Lord, wash away my sins and take control of my life. You are my God, and I am your child.” Your next step is to pick a church that adheres the Bibles teachings and standards. It’s okay to shop around for the one that makes you feel at home. Talk with the pastors and the people. Then take bible studies to grow in your understanding of God’s word. When you are ready, becoming an active member of your church is a great way to continue your spiritual growth and become part of a great community. Do you have more to say on the matter? Do you have questions or need to talk to someone? Comment below or send me an email. I always welcome and respond to respectful comments. May the Lord bless you and keep you now and forever. 1 Timothy 1:13 NIV “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
6 Comments
Sam I Am
9/28/2014 10:42:30 am
I want to believe but still have so many questions. whats the difference between church and "bible teaching" church?
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Victoria
9/28/2014 10:50:43 am
Hi Sam I Am! Thanks for commenting.
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Katherine
9/29/2014 01:48:09 pm
Hello Victoria, I would like to comment on Sam I Am. Finding a good church is crucial. If a church imposes rules and conditions, RUN. A true Christian Church will teach the word of GOD and only the word of God. My church teaches the gospel as it is in the bible. For years I was in the belief that being a good person was enough, I believed and called myself a Christian. I was so wrong. Since then I have grown and learned the real value of fellowship. My Christian walk is blessed. Today, I am a Christian.
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Victoria
9/29/2014 02:50:52 pm
Hi Katherine, thanks for stopping by.
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Marilyn
9/30/2014 10:59:47 am
Sam I am..........I want to encourage you to READ your Bible, which is how we get to know GOD - through His WORD. You will learn about GOD's character, about His promises to us, about what He expects from us, and about all the situations in life that need answers. You will find it all there. Since GOD is a spirit and we cannot see Him or converse with Him, He lovingly left us His WORD, so that we could in essence get to know Him by knowing His WORD. Prayer and reading the Bible are two very important disciplines we need to make a part of our every-day life, so we can KNOW our GOD. Also, a good church, with a good Pastor who preaches TRUTH from the Bible is essential. The Bible says, "Faith is by hearing.......and hearing by the WORD..." If we don't sit under PREACHING we can't HEAR THE WORD!!!! Growing your FAITH is a journey and it takes time and commitment.........but, if you seek Him with all your heart, He is faithful to hear your prayers and you He will answer............YOU WILL FIND HIM. Just talk to Him like you would talk to a friend!!!!
Victoria
9/30/2014 01:06:15 pm
Hi Marilyn, so glad you stopped by. You are absolutely right, read the Bible! So so important. Sam I am, Marilyn gave great advice. Pray and pray often. He's listening.
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Victoria GarafolaHi there! This devotional blog is a place for followers of Christ to share thoughts and experiences. Please remember to be respectful. Archives
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