I can’t do that!

“Don’t you think it’s interesting that the greatest sermon Jesus ever preached there’s no mention of the cross? Jesus had the purpose in mind on the Sermon on the Mount to prepare men and women to receive what he would do on the cross and to prepare them by ruining their confidence in their own good works.

We are supposed to come to verse 48, to that statement, ‘you shall be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect’ and say “I can’t do that!’

So, what do we do? We look to the cross… Jesus says I did [lived perfectly] and if you put your trust in me I will give you the gift of my righteousness in your life. My righteousness will be yours.

We are supposed to regard it like this; ‘I thought I was a pretty good person until I heard Jesus really explain the law of God in the Sermon on the Mount. Now I know I really need a Savior.’ ” -David Guzick

Jesus prayed for you

Would you like to hear a prayer that Jesus prayed over you? Go read John 17. Or even download the bible app, choose for the app to read it to you, close your eyes, and picture Him in prayer over you.

Take comfort in what Jesus desires for you. He desired it so much that while He was on this earth He prayed it over you just before He was arrested and took the wrath directed towards sin for you.

Take comfort in Jesus as your Savior. A relationship with Him that leads you to spending eternity with Him is His greatest desire. A relationship that brings about obedience, trust, and fulfilled pomises He has spoken over the ones that love Him.

Do you feel like your life hasnt been showing your love for Him? Make that first step today and tell Him you want to be different. Ask Him into your heart so all of His promises can be made complete in you. Come into agreement that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and ask for your heart to be directed towards Him instead of your sin. A year from now you will be amazed at how different you have become all thanks to Jesus calling to your heart and you welcoming Him in.

Dont worry about being enough for Him. That isnt the point. He is enough for you. That is the point.

Let Jesus talk to your heart today. He is exactly what you have been missing.

The sexual intention

God never intended for our focus, lives, or decisions to be governed by our sexual desires. Our identity was never meant to be based on our sexual desires. Sex is not a sin when it is between husband and wife alone. That makes it pretty simple to discern whether or not to have sex with someone or who to have sex with. It’s not complicated or confusing. Are you in a marriage with the opposite sex as stated in the bible (old and new testament, by the way)? If yes, then it is not sin. No? Then it is sin. No confusion. Plain and simple. May not always like it but that’s the truth.

But you know what else is the truth? The bible also states you can be washed clean of that sin just like all the others! We come to Jesus, choose Him as our Savior, repent our sins, and He gets to work on changing the desires of our heart to match His. Nothing confusing about that either! Praise Jesus for His grace and mercy and transforming power!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. ❤

You don’t have to go out like that

I have been thinking about how similar Peter and Judas were in their actions in the bible. Judas denying Jesus’ love and leading the guards straight to Him. Peter denying Jesus three times after He was taken by the guards. I mean, wow. Peter, one of the great apostles, can be compared to Judas the traitor.
But…
It is where they differ that makes all the difference.
Judas made a very bad decision. Was it predicted? Yes. Did it all fit into the plan? Yes. Peter also made a very bad decison that was predicted as well. Here is the difference: they both felt guilt for their actions, but Peter had accepted Jesus’ love and truly believed He was who He said He was while Judas did not truly believe who Jesus was. He faked it. He said he was a friend but hidden in the darkness of his heart was the truth. Jesus loved Judas. Judas never accepted that love. At anytime after his actions he could have asked for forgiveness and claimed his faith in Jesus. He didnt have to go out like that. Since Peter’s love for Jesus was true, his actions led him to forgiveness, stronger faith, and eternal life.
We all make mistakes. Do you react to them as Judas or as Peter? Do you truly believe Jesus is who He says He is? Have you accepted Him as your savior and decided to follow His ways? If not, friend, it is not too late. You dont have to go out like that.