BECAUSE OF CHRIST

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Colossians 1:22

God has made you his friends again. He did this through Christ’s death in the body so that he might bring you into God’s presence as people who are holy, with no wrong, and with nothing of which God can judge you guilty.

I closed yesterday’s DISPATCH with this little passage but thought it merited repeating today.

GOD has made you HIS friend.

He did this by offering HIS BEST, HIS SON for you and me.

By doing so HE opened a continuous conduit to HIS PRESENCE, HIS GUIDANCE, HIS OPPORTUNITIES, HIS BLESSING, HIS FRIENDSHIP AND HIS LOVE.

By doing so He freed us from guilt, pressure and shame.

Romans 8:1 (PHILLIPS)

No condemnation now hangs over the head of those who are “in” Jesus Christ. For the new spiritual principle of life “in” Christ lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin and death.

That is remarkable!

I love the way this translation describes that life of guilt; a vicious circle.  A circle of “am I saved or not”, “have what I have done this time siphoned GOD from me for good?” type questions.

Yet that passage from Colossians and that familiar refrain from Romans deals with those types of questions for good.

Because of CHRIST there is NO condemnation.

Because of CHRIST we are FRIENDS of GOD.

Because of CHRIST GOD's presence can be pursued and embraced!

Because of CHRIST, death can't sting.

Because of CHRIST GOD’s love flows freely, continuously and eternally for those who believe!

Lamentations 3:22 (ESV)

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases…

Therefore we should be exuberant in our service unto Him!  Amen?

We should be grateful for each day to walk in friendship, freedom and grace with Him! We should gladly take the charge to minister to those around us, encourage the troubled and intercede for the broken.

“When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden.”  ― Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 

So thank HIM for loving and FREEING you today!  Pursue and serve Him because He does and has!

"...you are freed up to serve, love, and give thanks without guilt, worry or fear." ― Francis Chan

Get to it!

Have an awesome weekend!

I love you all!

Freedom Church