Easter is this Sunday! I really didn’t want to do posts that were themed to what was going on at the time. What if you’re reading this several months from now, will “Easter” be relevant? So instead of calling it an Easter post, lets call it a post about forgiveness. I really went back and forth with what to write about this week but forgiveness has been something God has been working on with me, I really had a breakthrough with Him this week, so I wanted to share that with you!
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above evry name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (I recommend reading this chapter.)
“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehead unpunished — He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies thouse who have faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:22-26
I know that’s a lot of scripture, but I’m a word girl, I like words and I like to read for myself what the Bible says about things. I imagine there might be three types of people reading this post. One, you don’t know Jesus, you stumbled upon this post or someone shared it with you and you’re thinking “What in the world is this?” Two, you once knew the Lord, maybe you grew up in church, maybe you stopped going, but you’ve gone away from the Lord. Three, you know the Lord, maybe you go to church, but there is something keeping you from serving Him with your whole heart, or maybe you feel distant. Maybe there’s a fourth, someone who’s on fire for the Lord! You love Him, you know Him, you serve Him! Maybe there’s more, if I didn’t say your specific situation it doesn’t mean this doesn’t apply to you.
God is real.
Jesus loves you.
Jesus died for you.
You have not gone too far that you are unlovable.
You have not sinned too greatly that He can’t forgive you.
You. Are. Loved.
You. Are. Lovable.
Jesus dying on the cross for ME has always astonished me. It’s something I could just sit and ponder for hours. Why me? What’s so special about me? Whether I understand it or not, He did it. God created you and me (Genesis 1:27), because of our sin there had to be a sacrifice (Romans 3:23-24), God so graciously sent His Son to be the sacrifice for our sin (Philippians 2:5-11). All we must do is believe in Him, accept Him as our Savior, turn from our sin, and follow Him.
There is more I want to say about this, there is also more I want to say specifically to those who once walked with the Lord and have walked away (this will likely become its own post at a later time.) But I’m feeling that I need to just leave it here. Look up these scriptures, talk to the Lord for yourself. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me. I would love to talk to you more about forgiveness, our Savior, and the freedom you can have in Him.
I’m praying for you, friends.
