Because I know it is true.
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over to us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
Bits and pieces of my past along with my concerns have filtered through nearly 250 blog posts proclaiming the word of God. Long time readers can put the pieces together. They know that I was an undisciplined, willful and a self-centered child who rebelled against all authority. Instead of high school and college my time was spent in prisons. They also know how many different ways this old man has to remind you of Christ, challenge you to holiness and tell you that He may be coming soon. Why the change of heart? Because I am now under Christ’s authority.
My life has changed from rebellion to service. I didn’t change all at once, a little here and a little there. And there were a few years that some would say, “He fell from grace!” But falling is what taught me about God’s grace. He will always be there for those who seek His forgiveness.
Each chapter in our life is meant to enlighten our mind and draw our heart closer to Jesus. Searching through papers I found this picture that took me back 30 years. My mind traveled another 10 years to the time when broken I cried out to Him. So many changes, parts of God’s plan, before I was entrusted to teach God’s least able. The only lesson they could learn was that they were loved.
Now 40 years have come and gone and like those children I understand that I am loved. It took some time to work things out, self-love got in the way. Unlike those children, I thought I was able. You know, qualified to make my own decisions. Ha!
It is under Christ’s authority, submitting to His will, that God indeed will give us all good things. We can not expect to walk contrary to the Spirit of God and be rewarded for our behavior. It seems a simple thing to understand, but I was slow to get it.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and to have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Why proclaim? Because I know this is true as well. But for the grace of God I would have been destroyed, but Jesus gave His life for me. How can I be still knowing what I know?
How about you?
Father, I pray that all of your children learn these simple truths and lift their voices to proclaim Your love for those in darkness still. Your Son sits as our Priest and will soon come as our King. Thank You for preparing us to stand before Him without shame.
“Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and worries of life, and the day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:34-36)
His Family Table 