Mid-Week Message - Nonetheless

 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us."  1 John 1:8-10  (NIV)

When I was in the third or fourth grade in Amarillo, Texas, my school was selling discount tickets to the the town amusement park.  I wanted tickets very badly.  So, one morning I took all the lunch money that my father had set out for my brother and me then told him he had forgotten to put any out.  That night, my brother and I sat before my parents as they quizzed us about who took the money.  I allowed the blame, and the punishment, to fall on my brother.  I lied.  And I stole.  

There never comes a time that I sit before the Father without having sin to repent of.  It seems that I have a real talent for doing the wrong thing sometimes.  I have lied.  I have stolen.  I have lusted.  I have coveted.  I have gossiped and broken promises.  I am a sinner and I need a Savior.  

As many times as I have done it, admitting my sins to the Lord never gets easier for me.  It breaks my heart to have done anything that is against His will.  Like Paul, the things that I want to do, I don't do.(See Romans 7:15-20)  But the grace and the forgiveness that is available to all of us dries my tears and I find myself praising Him for His goodness, love and faithfulness.

There is a channel on YouTube that I follow.  It is done by a street preacher in the United Kingdom and when he presents the Gospel he asks people if they have ever committed certain sins like lying, theft and lust.  He then admits that he is guilty of all those things which leads him into explaining that Jesus died on the cross, endured the wrath of God, so that we might be forgiven.  

So great is the love of the Lord for us that He made a way to reconcile us to Himself.  Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  All of us are sinners.  None of us have been able to lead sinless lives, except for Jesus.  He was the perfect lamb, without blemish, sacrificed for each of us for the atonement of the wrongs we have committed against God.  Every person can access that forgiveness by believing in Jesus and repenting of our sins.  

There is a wonderful quote by A. W. Tozer that says, "Jesus Christ knows the worst about you.  Nonetheless, He is the one who loves you most."  The One who gave Himself up and paid the price for each of us loves us with a love that cannot be exceeded.  Now that is amazing grace! 

If I do nothing else of value in my life, I want to make sure you know about our Savior.  In the end, that is the only lasting gift that can be given to anyone.  None of us know if we will have a tomorrow so each moment is of utmost importance.  Jesus is always there, always listening, and always loving you.  God bless.