A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS REQUIRES HIM TO BE THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE

HAVE YOU MADE THE CHOICE TO ALLOW JESUS TO BE THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE ? This is a big question for those who want to truly Abide In Christ and receive the Gift of the Gospel. Jesus died on the Cross and took on OUR SIN that we might be SAVED…..and also made into a NEW CREATION. BORN AGAIN ! That means that WE ARE DIFFERENT when we give our life and heart to Christ. WHY ? The answer is because we GIVE UP CONTROL and let JESUS BECOME OUR LORD. He directs our life. We seek and strive to BE LIKE HIM. HIS WILL AND HIS WAY guides and defines who we are and what we do. We FOLLOW HIM. We OBEY HIM. WE MAKE THE CHOICE TO MAKE HIM THE LORD OF OUR LIFE ! Why is this so important ? If you simply believe in Jesus, but don’t turn your life over to Him, why would you be any different than the people who don’t believe in Him ? Why would you think that Jesus would be OK with your choice to simply say things, but then not make the necessary CHANGES to redirect your thoughts and behavior onto a different path. I’m not talking here about the sin we at times fall into as born again Christians. THE BOTTOM LINE is that I DESIRE TO BE CHANGED. I FEEL WRETCHED WHEN I SIN. It grieves me to fail in my fleshly self. I NEED TO CONFESS AND I NEED TO REPENT ! The Holy Spirit moves in me to help me recognize my failures, BUT also gives me the mercy and grace to be forgiven and keep on working toward Maturity and Righteousness. I’M ABLE TO SEE MYSELF AS I AM AND HOW I WANT TO BE, BECAUSE I HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. I see Him and know Him. I hear His voice in my life and Spirit because HE IS MY LORD ! My Salvation is a GIFT. His Lordship is my LIFE, HOPE, and JOY.

AND BEING FOUND IN HUMAN FORM, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS. THEREFORE GOD HAS HIGHLY EXALTED HIM AND BESTOWED UPON HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, SO THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. Philippians 2: 8-11

I AM THE LORD; THAT IS MY NAME; MY GLORY I GIVE TO NO OTHER, NOR MY PRAISE TO CARVED IDOLS Isaiah 42:8

ON HIS ROBE AND ON HIS THIGH HE HAS A NAME WRITTEN, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:16

JESUS CHRIST IS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS ! The question is, is He your King ? Is He your Lord Each one of us MUST BE SURE in our Heart what our answer is. Eternity is not a Game, or a Passing Thought. It is Life vs. Death. When Jesus knocks, He wants ALL OF YOU. He doesn’t give you a list of Religious Dogma or Practices to be a good Religious follower. HE WANTS YOU IN A ONE ON ONE BRING WHO YOU ARE RELATIONSHIP. No live how you want. No half baked worship steeped in emotion. No ON?OFF switch when you feel like it. Jesus wants 100% of you, 100% of the time. He can handle your imperfections. He can handle your fleshly immaturity. He can handle your struggles. He can wrestle with your moments of fear and insecurity. BUT, if you don’t recognize Him as Your Lord, and don’t have a Heart to Be A New Creation In Him, and you stay in sin and worship the same old “IDOLS” in your life…..I implore you to revisit your Salvation and Eternity. Don’t be in church, in Bible studies, singing songs, and feeling good if you haven’t Given Jesus Lordship over your life. You can immerse yourself in church, and service and religious dogma all day long and still miss the mark. Jesus is Your Personal Lord and Savior. He wants communion with you in prayer, conversations, worship, trust, love, and faith.

I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES; WHOEVER ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE IT IS THAT BEARS MUCH FRUIT, FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. John 15:5

HUMBLE YOURSELVES THEREFORE UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD SO THAT AT THE PROPER TIME HE MAY EXALT YOU, CASTING ALL YOUR ANXIETIES ON HIM, BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU. 1 Peter 5: 6-7

I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME. AND THE LIFE I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME. Galatians 2:20

Final thought for all of us. Have we been crucified with Jesus, or are we still living as we always have. Are we living our lives in Faith ? Are we counting on Jesus as our Lord; guiding us and giving us purpose that actually bears “Fruit” for His Kingdom ? Are we giving Him all of us and realizing that once WE ARE HIS, our burdens and anxieties become light as a feather ? I am far from a perfect man, but having JESUS AS MY LORD gives me EVERYTHING I NEED ! IDENTITY, RELATIONSHIP, PATH, PURPOSE, SALVATION, HOPE, PEACE, AND LOVE.Thanks be to God for His amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see :) MAKE HIM YOUR LORD/JAA

BUT GOD BEING RICH IN MERCY, BECAUSE OF THE GREAT LOVE WITH WHICH HE LOVED US, EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN OUR TRESPASSES, MADE US ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST- BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED. Ephesians 2:4-5