Have you ever done something you know was sinful, or looked back at your life and just knew you weren’t in right standing with God and that made you recoil in shame? Maybe you felt unworthy, unclean or disqualified from His presence. Be encouraged.
- Mary wet Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair all while she was accused of being ‘sinful.’
- Jesus gave audience to Nicodemus, a Pharisee—a group of people known to be hard-hearted and even hypocrites.
- Zacchaeus was a tax collector despised by his own people and labeled as a sellout. Yet, knowing his heart, Jesus came to him and visited his home.
- The thief on the right side of Jesus on the cross said to Jesus, ‘Remember me.’ To which Jesus replied, ‘Today you will be with me in paradise.’
- Peter was going to betray his Lord. Yet Jesus prayed for him, encouraged him and entrusted his flock to him.
Take a minute to read Luke 18:9-14. Two men—a Pharisee and a tax collector—went to the temple to pray. The tax collector knew he needed help, so he came humbly, poured his heart out to God and asked for mercy. The Pharisee, not so much.
Why is this story important? It is crucial to understand that our God is holy. Yet, He is also a God of mercy. He knows our frame; He knows that we are human. He knows we need help and He wants us to come to Him boldly without fear. The truth is, we do not have what it takes to make ourselves clean enough, or good enough, or holy enough to deserve what He gives. But we don’t need to. That’s why He sent His Son.
I implore you to accept the sacrifice of Jesus; receive His forgiveness and grace. Walk into His waiting arms. Jesus is the one who makes you worthy. He is the one who cleans and forgives and prepares you to go out and do His will.
The invitation is always open. The door is never shut. You don’t need a middle man, and you don’t need permission. All you need to do is come to Him. Whoever you are, whatever you’ve done, wherever you are, just come.
Receive these truths into your heart.
>Titus 3:5 - [H]e saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit…
>Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
>Romans 6:14 - For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
>John 3:17- For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
>Romans 10:9 - If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
>Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
>John 14:6 - Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you’ve ever felt ashamed to call His name, to draw near to Him or worship Him, here’s your chance to experience His love. The Father loves you and wants you to know that.
Please say this prayer:
Father, I thank you for loving me. I thank you for sending your Son to bear the punishment for my sins. I receive your unconditional love. Today, I stop the shame and condemnation and I walk into your loving arms. I worship you with a joyful heart. I believe in my heart that you are my savior, my friend, and lover of my soul. And I confess with my heart that I am saved, forgiven, washed, blessed and accepted.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Believer, you’re free from the hold of fear and condemnation. Jesus loves you and will never leave you. Believe that and continue to live for Him.
Blessings!
Image Credit: Thinkstock/Francescoch
