Happy New Year! May 2016 bring you health and happiness. But most of all may it bring you the peace of knowing that Jesus loves you. He died that you might live. He came that you might go to heaven.
Begin this year with a full knowledge of what Christ did for you. Yes, He came as that baby that we celebrated His birth just a week ago. He left heaven, can you honestly imagine? He left His throne, in a perfect place, with no arguments, no suffering, no pain. He came as a baby. He could not speak, yet He knew everything. He could not walk, yet He created the world. He could not do anything for Himself, yet He was all powerful. What contradictions His life contained.
He grew up, he went through everything we go through. He felt the pain of teething and scraped knees. He felt the hurt of dealing with those that didn't understand him as a young man, maybe even bullied him. He grew and He knew He had a purpose that no one on earth understood. How often do we feel misunderstood? Yet, who on earth could possibly understand that Jesus had left heaven to come and die for us? That is beyond our comprehension.
As He began to teach, He was mocked, He was laughed at, He was tempted in ways we cannot begin to understand. Yet, as much as He was man and suffered these things, He was God and He conquered them! His earthly ministry was short by most standards, just 3 years. Yet in that 3 years he accomplished more than any other person to ever walk on this earth.
He had true followers and he had fake ones, just like most ministries do. He had those that loved and cared for the people and those that cared only for the money, we see that in ministries all the time. He really did know what we would go through.
But at this point, we have to separate ourselves from understanding what He may have suffered because we in no way understand the suffering of the beatings, the cruelty of the cross, the pain and agony of having the Father look away as our sin was placed on Him. We can try but we really cannot truly grasp it.
He suffered each of those things for you and for me. He wants us to accept His love and His sacrifice. He wants us to know the redemption that He offers. People often say things like 'I'd have to give up so much to follow Jesus'. Yes, I gave up things. I gave up guilt, I gave up self loathing, I gave up the disgust my sin caused and I gave up the chains of sin that weighted me down. I gave up a lot but none of it had any value. And for everything I gave up I gained so much. I gained peace, joy, contentment, comfort, friendship, love, hope. I got the better end of the deal.
The Bible tells us 'today is the day of salvation'. If you do no know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, I'd count it an honor to talk with you and pray with you. Make 2016 a day of new beginning.
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