God

Today, for all who trust in the work of Christ to bring them into a personal relationship with God, that same power exists. Have you trusted in Jesus as the one who made the way to God?

The work of Jesus on the cross was applied to this condemned man. All his sin was laid on Jesus, and he passed from death to life. Such is the power of grace. Such is the fullness of forgiveness.

Too many people use the guilt and shame of sin as a barrier between themselves and God. Many believe they must clean up their acts before God will accept them. The problem with that thinking is this: no one can clean up their life on their own. Only Jesus can do that. Lay your sin—the sin He died for—before Him and let His forgiveness wash over your heart.

The Almighty took on flesh and made His dwelling among us. His existence was for this painful purpose. Sin had separated man from God. Death was sin’s penalty. Jesus, fully God and fully man, took on death for us. The Sinless One died for sinful man. The penalty of sin was paid for in full at the cross. He sacrificed Himself for you.

What an amazing scenario! The people chose to have a dangerous man back on the streets rather than have Jesus live. The innocent would die. The guilty went free. The same applies today. The spotless Lamb of God bore our sin in His body on the cross. He died in our place so we could be free forever.

God was humiliated. With the angels poised at the edge of heaven to charge, the Word remained silent. He prepared to be delivered as the perfect sacrifice for sin. He did it all for us.

We never have to be held back by past mistakes. God forgives and uses our failures to prepare us for the journey ahead.

Have you walked away from God? Have you betrayed the Lord? Have you turned your back on Jesus? Stop running. Don’t place your life in your own hands. Come to Jesus…and find the life you’ve always longed for.

Prayer is a personal conversation with God. It is not a laundry list of commands or must-haves. In the conversation with my heavenly Father, I can and should express my personal desires just like Jesus did. And, just like Jesus did, I should hand over my desires to the perfect will of God. That’s not a lack of faith. It’s called humble obedience.