There’s a song we sing at church that asks the question, “Do you know the one my heart loves?” And that my friend is my question to you. It doesn’t matter whether you are in church every minute the doors are open, or if you have never stepped over the threshold, the question remains the same; do you know Jesus? Not do you know of him, but do you know him in a personal way?
I’m not going to argue theology or debate in the ins and outs of what one denomination or religion thinks compared to another. This page is simply to tell you about Jesus, the one my heart loves. To do that I will give you a glimpse into my own journey.
I grew up in church, though my parents did not attend they made sure my sister and I did. Now whether that was because they wanted us to learn about God, or they simply wanted (needed) two hours without kids is anyone’s guess.
I learned that Jesus died on the cross because he loved me, and I asked him into my heart to be my savior.
Fast forward to my late thirties and I found myself spending the next ten years living away from anything to do with God. No church attendance. No church friends (we had moved countries). No reading the bible. Just pitiful, selfish complaining prayers. It was the most miserable ten years of my life.
I thought I was homesick for my physical home, but the Lord knew the real longing of my heart, as he does yours. Slowly I was drawn back, first to a church home and then to Himself.
What I found was love, grace, and forgiveness. I had known forgiveness, but this was my first time to experience a love so deep it invaded every part of me. Romantic love though nice comes no where close to the love of Jesus.
Grace is more than a name, it’s the unmerited favor of God. I didn’t deserve His grace and I for sure didn’t earn it. Yet, He gave it anyway. The one thing that blew my mind more than anything was God’s patience with me. He didn’t hound me the years I slipped away from walking close to him. Instead he gently wooed me back. He was always there even when I thought he wasn’t. He watched and waited ready with open arms for me to return to him.
He is waiting patiently with open arms for you, to return or come to him for the first time. He loves you no matter how messed up you think you are. The good news is we don’t have to love him before he will love us. He is not waiting for you to get your act together, or get cleaned up before you come to him. He will take you right there, where you are, right now. What you have done or what you have become he already knows…and he still loves you. He loves you enough not to leave you in your mess.
Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. That’s how much he loves us. He could of decided not to go to the cross, not to die. It wasn’t the nails that held him there on the cross, it was his love for you and me.
John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”.
The whoever; that’s you and that’s me.
Though Jesus died for everyone, it is up to the individual to choose to believe and accept his offer of salvation. Will you choose Jesus today?
Ephesians 3 encourages us to open the door and invite Christ into our lives. To know the extravagant dimensions of his love. To reach out and experience the breadth! To test its length! To plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! To live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
That’s the love he has for us, the love he wants us to experience with him both here on earth and throughout eternity.
Talk to Jesus, you don’t have to be eloquent or quote scripture. Simply talk to him in your own words and ask him to forgive you. Surrender to his love acknowledging him (Jesus) as the son of God. Then follow him, believe me you will not regret it.
If you have just accepted Jesus as your savior, Welcome to the family! This is my advice to you; go tell someone the good news. Find yourself a bible believing church where Christ is honored. Get a bible and read it a little bit everyday and let God’s love flow in you and through you.
Blessings to you
Helena
helenadavies.com 