Need Jesus?

Romans 5:8 tells us “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Sin makes us all sinners, but what is sin? It is the violation of God’s person - not recognizing Him for who He is and isn’t, and we are ALL guilty of that. The good news is that Christ came to take care of this sinful condition in us. His was a gruesome death that paid the price and a His glorious resurrection made it possible for us to be reconciled to God, enabling us to enter into a personal relationship with Him. Yes, I said personal! God desires to be involved in your everyday life, and be acknowledged as God: Creator, Restorer, Healer, Provider, the Great I AM. This is not a decision that we can come to lightly, but must with a sincere heart confess our incredible need of a Savior. Without Him, we are destitute. We can accomplish so much by ourselves, but without His life at work in us, all we do is temporal at best. Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly. No – it doesn’t mean you’ll never have a bad day or worse, but it does hold within it His promise never to leave you or forsake you. It does mean that when you lack wisdom, you can ask of the One who is all wise, and it also means that you have the promise of eternal life with Him. You can choose to blame those who belong to a church and still do not recognize Him for who He is – that is ultimately between them and God – but when all is said and done, Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” and we must all answer that individually. He is the Christ, Son of the Living God, and all He asks is that we recognize Him in our sinfulness so that we can be reconciled to Him. The words are easy, the ongoing life we live in Him is challenging. He didn’t come to make things easy; He came to make all things new so that we could live the life of an overcomer. Jesus said that those who would follow Him would deny themselves and take up their cross (Luke 9:23). What does that mean? We die to self and live for Him. He is infinitely more in every way than any of us could ever hope to become. He is God, and because of that, we choose to live in and for Him rather than ourselves. Galatians 2:20 states, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” He has confessed His love for you. In John’s Gospel, 15:9-13, He states, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” He not only spoke the word, He lived the word, and is the Word. Won’t you come to Jesus? He loves you so very much and cares what you’re going through. Acknowledge Him for who He is and allow Him to minister that love to you today!