Many Christians I have talked to in the last month have been on the brink of giving up. Let me tell you, this is no time to give up! This is the time to roll your sleeves up and get to work for God like there's no tomorrow.
One thing is for certain—there's one less tomorrow today than there was yesterday. We can fight the good fight of faith, and we can win! Payday is coming! The host of heaven is cheering us on!
There are two things I would like to bring to your attention. Number one is, the devil is our ever-present enemy. He never takes a day off, he doesn't call in sick, he never sleeps, and he has a real attitude.
He hates everyone and everything. Why? Because God created everything, and so therefore, because the devil hates God so much, he hates all of God's creation. Because mankind is the most beloved of all of God's creatures, and because the devil can't hurt God, we are the devil's prime target.
And if you are a child of God, then you are at the head of the list for harassment.
But guess what? This brings me to point number two; there is good news. I always like to save the good news until last. The good news is, and you've heard it before, you are the apple of God's eye.
Remember the long letter in Psalm 91? Did it sink in? Have you any idea how much God loves you? God is moved...no, he is absolutely driven by His love and compassion for you. His great love for you drove Him to find a way to save you, heal you, and deliver you from the torment of the devil.
Why do you think God could or would turn His back on you and let the devil destroy you? He won't. And besides, the devil couldn't destroy you if he tried, unless you give him permission to. God will see to that. That's how much God loves you.
Of course, God will never mess with your free will. If you want to let the devil destroy you, He will let you—that's your choice. But that's not the smart choice. It was God Himself that created you with a free will. You see, that's real love.
I don't know if you've ever given any serious thought to what Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19 or not, but He said:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.What does that mean to you? That means God the Father anointed, equipped, and sent His Son Jesus to do several things. One was to preach the gospel to the poor, telling us that for our sakes He became poor, that we, through His poverty might be rich. And yes, that's what the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 8:9, believe it or not:
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.The Father sent the Son to heal the brokenhearted. Are you broken hearted? Is "Disappointed" your middle name?
If so, there was a song written about you. They used to sing it years ago on a TV show called "HEE-HAW!"
The words went like this (don't ask me why I know): "Gloom, despair, agony on me...Deep dark depression, excessive misery...if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all...gloom, despair, agony on me."
Well, let me tell you what! Jesus came to rewrite that song. Now it goes like this: "Praise the LORD, Jesus set me free! No more depression, excessive misery. If it weren't for His love, I'd have no life at all...Praise the LORD, Jesus set me free!"
That's another thing He did for us.
Then, He came to preach deliverance to the captives. What captivity do you need set free from? Debt? Sickness? Addictions? All of the above? Jesus has the cure that never fails!
How's your sight? Are you blind to the fact that God loves you and wants a relationship with you? Are you a little near-sighted and only have eyes for yourself? Jesus was not selfish. He gave it all, just for you and others just like you.
Can we not look at others with love and compassion like Jesus did? Or maybe you have trouble seeing yourself as someone God loves and finds to be precious to Him? One kind of blindness is as bad as the other. Either one leaves us less than God intended for us to be.
He came to give us sight. And, by the way, if your physical eyes need healing, Jesus came to take care of that too. Just ask. He asked the blind men, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" He didn't ask, "Believe ye that I am willing to do this?"
He's always willing! Are you? That's the real question. God is always willing to heal. Read the Book. Don't just take my word for it.
Jesus came to set at liberty them that are bruised. Bruises come from being beat down, both physically and spiritually.
Finally, Jesus came to preach the acceptable year of the LORD. When is that? I'm glad you asked. It's right now!
If you're hurting, feeling depressed, bent, broken, blind or bruised, or all of the above, I have good news for you! Relief is just a prayer of faith away. Jesus loves you and He told me to tell you so. How much? Why don't you find out right now by praying this prayer?
Father God in heaven, I come to You in Jesus' name. Lord, I thank You for Your love and mercy. I praise You, and worship You, for You are worthy. I need You LORD, I ask You to touch me right now with Your presence.
Lord Jesus, remove poverty from me, that I might be a blessing to those in need. Heal my broken heart, set me free from all that holds me in bondage. Give me light that I might see to live by Your Word and teach others to do the same. Heal my bruises, Lord, make me whole. I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
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