My Go-To
View all responsesI’m never going to be good enough while living on this planet. I’ll always need mercy and forgiveness. If I write something that offends you, I might even need your forgiveness. But mostly I need God’s forgiveness. He is my go-to for mercy and deliverance.
King David, speaking of the wicked, wrote: “In your heart you devise injustice.” (Psalm 58:2) Isaiah had a broader view of evil. He wrote: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) Paul wrote, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12) Peter, referring to Isaiah’s words wrote this about Jesus: “He Himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’ For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25) The Bible boldly proclaims Christ’s power to forgive and deliver a wretch like me.
The body of Christ is the community of the forgiven–the undeserving recipients of God’s mercy and deliverance–and I am one of them. Are you? The essence of what it means to be the body of Christ is genuine Spirit-led community, not a classroom style lecture. Christians need less sermon-hearing and much more Spirit-led doing. (James 1:22 and Romans 8:14)
What you know about Jesus by personal experience with Him and direct heart-to-heart revelation from Him is much more powerful than anything you can learn about Him from a merely human teacher. A relationship with Jesus is personal not institutional. What matters most is what you allow Him to do in your heart, not a religious program.
Jesus speaks to humble people who will listen directly to Him with an open, humble hear. Will you?
When the Holy Spirit begins to move some people almost always rise up and try to stop Him. I’ve seen this happen many times. About two years ago I discovered a group (not a church) that let people share as the Holy Spirit led them. People opened up and shared their heart. You could strongly sense God’s presence. At times as many as 50 people were present. However, some people were uncomfortable and worked to limit the Spirit’s freedom by bringing in human programming and control. It was amazing while it lasted but sad to see it stopped.
True worship can take place anywhere. It’s not confined to a particular place, time, or organization. (John 4:21-23) Make humble, heart-felt worship and an intimate obedient relationship with the risen Jesus your aim, not church attendance.
Don’t wait for
A church service.
Talk to Jesus.
Listen to Him.
Let Him lead you.
Let Him explain
The Bible to you,
Here and now.
The funny movie “Lucky Louie” (available on Prime) vividly illustrates this point, especially in the final few minutes. It will touch your heart.
