living proof

The greatest man to ever live was Jesus.  His plan given to Him by His father was to let the entire world know of His love.  God’s plan is clear and is for us.  What we understand this week, the week before Easter, is how important this story really is.  When a person gets it, the story gets them and radically changes us.

2 Peter 3:9  NASB

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

John 3:17  NASB

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

1 Corinthians 1:21  NASB

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

God chose Jesus to be the sacrifice for sin and the savior of the world, but God chose our sharing of His story to be the way that people come to know Him.  Those two things, Jesus’ sacrifice and our sharing, are eternally linked to the life change that continues to happen in this world.

Not everyone gets this story.  It really is useless or foolish if a person doesn’t see their need for Jesus.  That is why I pray God reveals Himself to the people we come in contact with.  Easter is a revealing time.

1 Corinthians 1:18  NLT

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!  But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

It is the power of God, yet life isn’t easy.  We have found that to be true.  We read the stories of others throughout history who have found that knowing God and following Jesus is the most difficult thing in the world. 

Get some perspective.  Eternity is a really long time.  Our short life on earth and all the suffering cannot compare to the time we will spend in Heaven and with God.  Jesus lived that truth and was living proof for all to see.  He keeps on living that truth.

Romans 8:18  NASB

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

The enemy is real.  His way is to distract us and to shade the truth.  If Satan can get our mind off of God and change our direction from following Him, we will miss the purpose God has for us and the abundance He wants to bless us with.  Who are we allowing to fill our lives?

John 10:10  NLT

The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

I close today’s thoughts with a verse that continues to baffle me.  I shared it Sunday with our church.  It is strong.  Strong because the good news is that Jesus is our life.  It is strong.  Strong because Jesus and others have become living proof that Jesus is what life is all about.

1 Thessalonians 1:5  NLT

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.  And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message.