For evil men and women
Many people see God as harsh and demanding. They don’t feel like they can measure up or that God wants them. Others when they fall back into sin get discouraged and think that God won’t want them back. Whatever the cause or the reason, people see themselves as evil and unwanted. Guess what you’re wrong. I read this this morning:
NAU Luke 6:35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
God is kind to ungrateful and evil people. Wow. But then I also read the story that Jesus told that described the kingdom of heaven as a wedding feast put on by a king. When the first guests he invited would not come, he invited anyone who would come.
NAU Matthew 22:10 "Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.
You say you are evil, that’s ok, He came to die to save evil men and women. No matter your past, no matter what you have done, God invites you to join Him for a better future. What do you say?
(Photo by Angela Stott, Asheville, NC, http://www.angelastott.com/, from our wedding)
Surviving Tough Times
I just read this today and something stood out to me:
Matthew 7:24-27 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Many people think that because you are a Christian, that you will not have tough times, but tough times come to all. We follow Jesus so that when the tough times come, He will bring us through them.
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
