Sometimes I feel really entitled. I find myself believing that I deserve all of the things I have been blessed with and I don't understand when something doesn't go the way I would like for it to go. I have the mindset of a spoiled child at times. It's embarrassing. I just want to stomp my feet and get my way. I really like to be understood and get my point across properly so people will know why I did something or why someone else shouldn't have done something.
I recently read my entire way through Luke, which I've never done before, and it has been an incredible experience for me. Although I've been a Christian my entire life, I haven't fully grasped the depth of God's grace and mercy quite yet. It's so big that it's hard to ever be able to fathom, but I've never even come close to realizing what it truly means. I am excited to read through each of the gospels because they give such an intricate look into who Jesus was and how much he loves us. As I read through Luke, I was amazed how each story could be related to my life and how Jesus loves me and cares for me through each and every situation and how desperately I need to seek after Him and choose to be set free by His wonderful love and grace.
In hard times I have seen that when I focus on who God is my problems get smaller and smaller and ultimately they become insignificant because he is greater. It seems so obvious, but really it should blow my mind every day.
The book of Luke closes with two verses that really caught my eye today,
Luke 24:52-53 -- Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
This was the peoples response to Jesus' resurrection and fulfillment of what he had promised. They worshiped him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and praised God. I think after years and years of going to church and hearing the story of Jesus dying on the cross for my sins I've become somewhat callused to what that truly means. But He is softening my heart and teaching me to have compassion for his children as he has had on me. He is teaching me what it means to love and care for his sheep as he would do. He wants me to take care of the responsibilities that he has entrusted me and seek his kingdom and righteousness above all else. He wants my all. He wants to be with me in every moment of everyday. He'll never get tired of me, never misunderstand me, and never leave me. He died on the cross so that he could spend time with me. He paid it all so that I could live in His freedom. I'm in awe. My eyes have truly been opened to more than I've ever really understood.
Like most church-going kids, the first verse I ever memorized was John 3:16. Lately this verse is constantly running through my mind.
John 3:16-17 -- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
He didn't come here to point out why we weren't good enough. He wasn't here to tell us that he was sorry that we suck so bad. He didn't come to watch us fail and laugh at us. He didn't come to mock us. He came to save us. He came to make us clean. He came to love us, cherish us, and bless us.
So when I go out into the world as Christ's ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20), I should enter it with the intention of loving the world as Jesus did so that they may believe in Him and have eternal life. I should not go with the intention to condemn the world, but to teach them who Jesus really is with hopes that through him they will be saved.
Luke 19:10 -- For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.
If I am to love like Jesus loved, then I am called to seek and save the lost as well.
Matthew 28:19 -- Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Jesus wants us to go to his lost children. He wants us to leave the 99, just as he did, and search for that 1 who needs him. And if we believe in Him, we will give up everything we have to follow him.
Luke 14:33 -- In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
It's intimidating to even consider giving up everything you have, but...
Acts 20:24 -- However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.
Listen to God as he softens your heart and pour into his word as he speaks to you in spirit and in truth. Be excited as he reveals his path for you because even if it's not exactly what you wanted...he knows best. And you know that.
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