We Need Jesus
Today's Scripture
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:23-24 NLT
Thoughts for Today
We are defined not by our accomplishments or failures, but by who we are in Christ.
This can be good news when what we've done is nothing to brag about. Maybe we've lived a sinful lifestyle, been selfish and unkind, or just experienced a lot of failure in our life. Praise God that he doesn't define us by what we've done, but by what Christ did for us. He died on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven. And when we believe and accept the sacrifice he made for us, we are cleansed. Then God sees us as though we have never sinned! And that's our new identity ... a follower of Christ, clothed in his righteousness.
But on the other hand, maybe we've lived a pretty good life and achieved a high level of success. We really like being defined by that. We like feeling good about what we've done. We like the praise and admiration of others....But you know what? Our accomplishments aren't really that impressive to God. He sees our hearts. He knows that they are not always pure. He knows that we need Jesus. We need to know that too.
Consider this …
All the accomplishments in the world don't mean a thing when it comes to getting right with God and spending eternity with him. We just can't do enough to earn our way—that's why we need Jesus.
If you are not a fully committed follower of Christ, you can make that decision right now. No matter what your past ... no matter how good or bad your behavior ... you need Jesus. He loves you and is reaching out to you right now. Do you want to meet him? Just tell him that you know you need him ... and that you want to follow him. He is ready ... are you?
Prayer
Jesus, I believe that you died for my sins. Please forgive me for all my past. I'm ready for a change. I want to follow you ... and do things your way. In Jesus' name ...
These thoughts were drawn from …
Lessons Learned: Moving from Homosexuality to Holiness by Tammy Webb-Witholt. This group study offers biblical tools, along with an abundance of hope, to anyone struggling with homosexuality. It is also a great group for anyone desiring a deeper walk with God. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study.
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