Sin bricks...

Imagine every sin you committed was a small clay brick and everytime you committed a sin, it was labelled on a brick and hung on your neck. How many bricks would you have slung over over your neck now?
How difficult will it be for you to stand up straight speak more of walking?
It would be almost impossible to do either if you will agree with me.
This is the easter season and any true believer would know that this is the period when we remember Jesus' death on the cross for the sins of the whole world. Many of us see the beating and all the physical torture that Jesus endured as the real punishment for our sins. That is not so! If the payment for our sins were the physical pains thaaat Jesus endured for 3 hours, then it equally means that all we just gotta do is spend 3 hours in hell and we would pay for sins and walk out of hell.
However, the actual payment for our sins was the eternal separation from God the Father that Jesus faced for those 3 hours. At that point, Jesus faced the wrath of God. God turned His face away from Jesus because He at that point, bore the sins of the whole wide world. THAT was the payment for our sins.
Let's go back to the earlier illustration. Imagine the sins of the whole wide world, each labelled on a brick and Jesus having to carry ALL of it. That was exactly what Jesus did on the cross. He carried our sins, past, present, and future, and nailed them to the cross. He took my punishment and diverted Gods wrath towards me to Himself. Jesus has perfected for ALL time the payment of my sins. Now there is no more condemnation for me because I believe in Him. Romans 8:1 says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
What does the death of Jesus on the cross mean to me? Does it mean life? Or is it just a symbol or a story that thrills me each time I hear it?
All that comes to mind is this phrase in a song I heard that says, "Oh Lord, Oh Lord, what could I have done if salvation had not been free?" Jesus has done for me what NO man could ever do for me. All...for FREE....
Thank You Jesus!!!





References: Sulmane Maigadi, The Holy Bible (NIV)

Need an energy boost?

Isaiah 40:29-31, "He gives strength to the weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (NIV)
I remember very well in my primary school days, during sport programs, anyone who participated in any of the games got a spoonful of glucose not just as a reward, but as a boost for the spent energy. We all looked forward to getting glucose and having feeling the coolness of it on our tongues and relish the sweetness.
Looking back to my life, I have come to realize that life is a race. It is a continuous process which will not end until Jesus comes. You will agree with me that sometimes we get weary and tired and begin to feel like we can't go on. It seems like all our physical and emotional energy has been spent to the point of no remedy and then many of us tend to listen to our feelings and want to give up on life.
What difficulty are you going through in your life right now? What challenges are seeming to weigh you down?
Do not forget that even in the physical race, the journey is not entirely smooth. It may be rigorous and the runner may even encounter hurdles along the way. But does he give up? No! He has his eyes on the finish line and on the prize.
Do you need an energy boost? Is your strength failing you? God has been promised to renew your strength if only you wait on Him. This you can do in prayer and communion with Him. His arms are wide open when you are feeling spent and beaten. He is ready to refresh you so that you can walk, run, and even soar with renewed strength.
Do not give up. Keep the faith. It is not over yet. Keep your eyes on the finish line and the prize which in our case as Children of the Most High is the unfading crown of righteousness.
2 Timothy 4:7-8a "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness..." (NIV)
Need and energy boost? Go to God!!!




Reference: The True Images Bible. (NIV)

Be grateful...!

A song says, "Be grateful, cos there's someone else who'd love to be in your shoes... It's gonna be alright. Be grateful."
I'm sitting in my bathroom trying to soak my hurting feet in warm water but also complaining at the same time because I bought a new pair of shoes and I wore them for the first time that day and they hurt my feet because they were too tight. But then it struck me! It struck me that someone else somewhere had a much worse day because she didn't have even a pair of slippers to wear that day. I realised, that somewhere, some orphans didn't have lunch just because they had no firewood to cook with and no money to even buy some. And my whole thought pattern changed. I began to think of the the many miracles I experienced that day. I got up strong and happy, had enough to eat for breakfast, drove around and had no single accident, I came back home to a warm and cozy bed. Then I began to realize how ungrateful I have been for such blessings!
I looked outside and I saw how brightly the sun was shining. It wasn't too hot to burn me, it was just perfect. The trees were dancing to the heavenly tune of the wind, the little but hardworking ants were going about their normal business. I could see the awesomeness of My Father in display for me to marvel at, free of charge. Another song says, "What if blessings come through raindrops, what if the healing comes through tears... What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise"
I have learnt to be grateful, for everything that happens, in every circumstance I find myself in for but for His mercies, I would have been consumed. I do not deserve an inch of what I'm getting! Why complain over trivial things?
So, whenever I'm tempted to complain, I remember that there's someone else who's worse off than me.
Be grateful for family, for friends, for the good weather, for food, for that headache you didn't have today, for the smile and laughter you had today, for EVERyTHinG.
Even in that "bad" situation," just smile and say, "Lord, I thank you!"
Be grateful!!!