WHAT IF WE REALIZE THAT JESUS HAS ALREADY GIVEN US EVERYTHING ?

11/2/2019

I THINK FOR A LOT OF CHRISTIANS OUR LIVES FEEL DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE FAIL TO REALIZE THAT JESUS HAS ALREADY COMPLETED US. INSTEAD, WE SLIP INTO OUR ARMOR EACH DAY , SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH THE LIST OF ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO AVOID. OUR HABITS AND BEHAVIORS ARE TRULY A HUGE FOCUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A SPECIFIC THING OR TWO THAT SEEM TO LEAD US INTO SIN. THE SIN BECOMES THE FOCUS AS WE TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND BEGIN THE FIGHT TO OVERCOME IT ! BATTLING TO OVERCOME OUR FLESH AND BEAT BACK SIN ISN’T BAD IN ITSELF ON THE SURFACE, BUT IT HAS AN ODD WAY OF BECOMING TOO MUCH OF A FOCUS. IT BECOMES A STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME THE THINGS YOU WANT TO CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BEHAVIOR. WHEN WE FOCUS TOO MUCH ON THE BATTLE WE FORGET THAT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN WON. WE START TO THINK THAT MODIFYING OURSELVES THROUGH SELF EFFORT WILL SOLIDIFY OUR SALVATION, IT’S THE IDEA THAT JESUS WILL SOMEHOW BE MORE PLEASED WITH US WHEN HE SEES HOW HARD WE WORK AT BEING SAVED. I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN “SIN MANAGEMENT”, AND IT DOESN’T WORK. IF I CAN LAY OUT A PLAN THAT WILL STIFFLE TEMPTATION, MAKE IT HARDER TO FALL INTO TRAPS OF WEAKNESS OR NEED, THEN I WILL BE GROWING….. BUT, THAT APPROACH SEEMS TO DELIVER JUST THE OPPOSITE RESULT. I FAILED. I WAS GOOD FOR A WHILE, BUT I MESSED UP. I WAS SO GOOD FOR 4 WEEKS, THEN I JUST GOT WEAK FOR THAT MOMENT AND FOUND MYSELF DOING WHAT I DIDN’T WANT TO DO ! AGAIN 1 A CASCADE OF EMOTIONS RACK ME. FRUSTRATION, SELF ANGER, SHAME, GUILT, WEAKNESS…..WHY CANT I BEAT THIS AND BE MORE HONORABLE AND GOOD? THE ANSWER ? WE ARE ALREADY COMPLETE BECAUSE JESUS HAS MADE US COMPLETE. HE TOOK ON EVERYTHING WE ARE NOT, AND OVERCAME OUR SIN, FAILURES, FRUSTRATIONS, WEAKNESS, AND IMPERFECTION TO GIVE US SALVATION. AND HE DID IT JUST OUT OF LOVE FOR US AND A DESIRE TO HAVE US WITH HIM. WE DONT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO EARN OUR SALVATION BY OUR OWN EFFORTS !!!

THEREFORE HE IS ABLE TO SAVE COMPLETELY THOSE WHO COME TO GOD THROUGH HIM, BECAUSE HE ALWAYS LIVES TO INTERCEDE FOR THEM. Hebrews 7:25

THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY , “COME1” AND LET THE ONE WHO HEARS SAY, “COME.” LET THE ONE WHO IS THIRSTY COME, AND LET THE ONE WHO WISHES TAKE THE FREE GIFT OF THE WATER OF LIFE. Revelation 22:17

JESUS HAS GIVEN US THE FREE GIFT OF SALVATION IF WE TAKE IT. OUR JOB IS TO BELIEVE IT, BELIEVE IN HIM, TRUST IN HIM, AND LIVE IN HIM. WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT OUR FOCUS IS ON DESIRING TO BE LIKE HIM. THAT IS WHEN OUR BEHAVIOR TRULY CHANGES. WANTING TO BE LIKE HIM DOESN’T REVOLVE AROUND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION, IT GOES DEEP INTO CHANGING OUR DESIRES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR HEART ! MY DESIRE IS TO BE RIGHTEOUS AND PERFECT LIKE HE IS. MY DESIRE IS TO BE FILLED WITH A LOVE FOR THE FATHER, AND TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. MY DESIRE IS TO HAVE HIS CHARACTER AND LIVE MY LIFE AS HIS COMMANDMENTS SUGGEST….NOT IN BONDAGE, BUT IN FREEDOM AND DESIRE. TO LOVE OTHERS, TO SEEK GOD’S KINGDOM, TO FIND MY PURPOSE IN HIM, NOT THE WORLD. I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT THE KEY IS TO SEE YOURSELF AS HE SEES YOU, AND TO STRIVE FOR IT, DESIRE IT, AND TRULY REALIZE THAT JESUS HAS ALREADY GIVEN YOU ETERNAL LIFE AND PERFECTION IN YOUR UNION. ABIDE IN HIM, DESIRE HIM, AND YOU WILL BE FREE ! BELIEVE IT !

IN HIM AND THROUGH FAITH IN HIM, WE MAY APPROACH GOD WITH FREEDOM AND CONFIDENCE. Ephesians 3:12

SO IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED. John 8:36

JESUS LOVES YOU, AND YOUR FAITH IN HIM HAS SET YOU FREE. DON’T BUY INTO FAILURE, FRUSTRATION, GUILT OR SHAME. DESIRE HIM AND LIVE IN HIM. PUT YOUR EFFORTS INTO YOUR DESIRE FOR HIM AND BEING LIKE HIM. LET THAT DESIRE CHANGE WHO YOU ARE…..AND YOU WILL BE FREE, SATISFIED, AND BLESSED :) PEACE AND BLESSINGS/JA