I have to admit one of my greatest frustrations these days.
It’s been a frustration ever since I returned to the States. I initially
expected to be frustrated with people who didn’t understand or care about poverty. Or maybe that Americans are so
materialistic and wasteful. The fact of the mater is, I’ve become used to the lush lifestyle already
and I honestly have watched myself buy crap I didn’t need and waste stuff that I shouldn’t…and I’ve been home for a little over a month. So what,
then, is my frustration? I see it, time and again, in the people around
me—mainly Christians.
I can’t really blame
them though. I struggled with the same things, maybe even to a more
dramatic degree, before my world was turned
upside-down. My frustration is this: I see my dearest friends and fellow
followers of Christ living and believing
lies. I constantly hear about how horrible they think they are or that
they can’t do things simply because
they “can’t�. It took me at least 4-5 months on the race to finally break that habit. Because honestly I
thought I was just some scumbag that couldn’t
possibly do something totally crazy and
amazing for God’s Kingdom.
I am writing this blog to say, loud and clear, that that way
of thinking is ludicrous. If that offends you, I ask you to seriously consider why.
Granted, I understand that the Bible says,
“All have fallen short of the glory of God�
and that
“there is not one righteous, not even one�.
The Bible, consequently, states that
“[the Lord God of Israel]
has come to help and
has redeemed
his people� and “Christ
redeemed us from that self-defeating,
cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture
that says, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’? That is what happened when
Jesus was nailed to the Cross: He became a curse, and at the same time
dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham’s blessing is present and available for non-Jews,
too. We are [all] able to receive God’s
life, his Spirit, in and with us by
believing….â€�
PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?
Here, I’ll let Jesus
explain a little more:
“The person who trusts
me will not only do what I’m
doing but even greater things,
because I, on my way to the Father, am
giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count
on it.�
haha, “you can count on it�! I love it!
I had to come to the realization that even though it is
super hard to hear self-condemning comments coming from (completely) forgiven heirs of the Kingdom, I was once there and I
often fall into the same trap today. But what changed in me was time, repetition, and people telling me the
truth.
Another realization came to mind. I’ve done a really
horrible job telling people who they truly are. And for that, I have to say that I’m sorry. But there’s not much
sense in wasting time worrying and feeling guilty about things already
done…especially when God’s grace has
already abounded that sin!!!
So here’s what’s going to happen. I want to tell you who you are!!
And I pray that you take your time and don’t worry if it
doesn’t happen all of a sudden (or
half of a sudden).
That you repeat the ones that hit your heart,
like a sledgehammer,
over and over and over
again.
That you take these
truths to your siblings in Christ
that can and will speak
them into your life
(i.e. look you
in the eye and say them to you).
Wake up child. It’s your time to shine! You were born for such a time
as this!
-You are a light to this world; a beacon!
-You bear the good, nutritious fruit of God
-You have been CHOSEN and APPOINTED to live where you are, to do what you’re doing and only you can fulfill the purpose God
has placed before you
-You have been adopted by an unconditionally loving, unfailing,
all-powerful Father.
-You inherit the same Kingdom as Christ
-You are a sanctified (declared holy and
righteous) saint, and that’s what
God sees when He looks at you
-You are part of the Body of Christ; it
functions best and holistically when we’re all together pursuing the will of
God.
-You are reconciled to God and you now have the
possibility and ability to be an ambassador
of that reconciliation
-You are one with Christ
-You’ve been saved and are seated with Christ
-You are God’s workmanship and you have a destiny
-You are a citizen of God’s house
-You were predestined to look like and be
conformed into Christ’s image
-You are hidden with Christ
-You are a holy, beloved, chosen child of the Most High King
-You are part of a heavenly calling
-You are a chosen race
-You are royal priesthood
-You are part of a holy nation
-You are a people for
God’s possession
-You are the enemy of the devil
-You possess, inside of you, at this very moment, the same power
that RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD
-You’ve been set free
-You can shape history
–God is alive and He is inside of you
Christ won. That
means you win. Christ said His followers would do the same things He did…and
even greater things. If you’ve placed your trust in Christ and want/are
following Christ, THIS MEANS YOU.
I will ask this
question again: WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH IT? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REALIZE THAT
CHRIST OVERCAME THE GRAVE AND HAS GIVEN YOU GREATNESS AND HAS PREDESTINED YOU
TO BE GREAT.
BECAUSE CHRIST IS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING…ANYTHING…I REALLY MEAN ANYTHING.
PLEASE BELIEVE
THAT HE WANTS TO LOVE AND MOVE IN AND THROUGH YOU…
BECAUSE HE
DOES!!!!
You were made
for glory!
