Throughout the Bible, God reveals the agony of defeat that every human must bear if they don’t choose Christ and follow after Him. God’s message is oh so simple: Man has been separated from God because of rebellious spirits that desire their own way over His way. Despite the rebellion, God never stops loving man. He loves man so much that He allowed His Son to become like man and placed on Himself the agony of all our sins (the billions of people throughout the generations). He bore the agony of defeat by crucifixion. He did this out of pure love. By doing this, Jesus defeated death and Satan. He became and will always be man’s liberator from sin and deception. Repent of your sins, turn to God, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you each day in obedience to how God wants you now live should be every man’s response.
Throughout the Bible, God also reveals who He is, and how He handles man’s sins as well as how He treats those who have become His children. You read that God does not tolerate disobedience, and He corrects rebellious attitudes. He tenderly cares for those who are following after His own heart with the most wonderful blessings. “You have a friend in Me,” God will tell you. God is your enemy if you choose to ignore Him.
God’s message is simple and He gives many situations throughout His 66 books to illustrate it.
Isaiah 46 gives a simple picture of just how loving and caring our Sovereign God is. This sinful world is full of (lower case) gods. They cannot deliver what the Living (upper case) God can. Things that you think you need for comfort, security, or simply to be entertained, all fall short of what your heart and soul are craving; read Isaiah 47 to learn about sin. Sin has caused every human heart to be sick. It needs healing and only our Heavenly Father can heal it.
We tend to worship people and things over God Himself.
Despite our (lower case) god-loving spirits, look what God does for those who choose to believe: First of all, LISTEN! God cannot change you when you aren’t tuned into Him. Look to Him in all things, this means while driving to work, at work, while washing dishes or walking the dog, folding clothes, or filling the car with gas. Look to Him when you are busy and when you are sitting in front of the TV or scrolling through social media. Seek Him in the morning, at lunchtime, and during the night. Let Him be a part of your whole life. Throughout the Bible, the prophets and disciples would tell people to LISTEN. We tend to be a bit stubborn and it’s easy to become wayward and keep from doing what is right; see verse 12.
Now, take some time and allow the Spirit to help you to see God:
1. God has cared for you since you were born – You matter to God. He gives you purpose and an identity.
2. God will be your God throughout your lifetime – You will never be alone.
3. God made you and He will care for you – He will be your best friend.
4. God will carry you along and save you – God redeems you and adopts you into His eternal family.
5. Remember what God has done for you in the past – The Spirit will help you to see how He is there.
6. God is the only God. He is the great I AM – He is a personal, present God.
7. There is no one like God – He is the Sovereign God of all creation.
8. God can tell you what the future holds – He will prepare you for what lies ahead.
9. Everything God plans will come to pass – He is trustworthy. You can depend on Him.
God is ready to set things right in your life. He is ready right now! He is ready to save you and show You His glory. The question is, are you ready for God to take the lead and show you how to really live? Are your ready for God to amaze you with His undeniable, redeeming, gracious love?
This week-end is Palm Sunday. This is the start of Holy Week that leads believers to the greatest event ever to happen to sinful man. It is Resurrection Sunday! It changed everything! Because of it, every sinful man has hope, eternal hope. Won’t you say yes this Easter season? Or do you need to press the reset button and return to the love of your life, Jesus Christ? Has worldly living gotten in the way of your walk with God?
God is ready to love on you, are you ready for His love?
Carol J German 