Jesus:
What Have You Done for Me Lately?
Ephesians 4:21-24
I
was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Throughout my years, I knew
my parents loved me, but they never said it. When I was a teenager, I
searched for love in all the wrong places (I know that was a song). At the age
of thirteen, I experienced everything that I was not supposed to experience.
Drugs, alcohol, and so much more became part of my teenage life.
No
matter what I tried to do to be happy in my life, I failed. My life was a
disaster, but I did not know what else to do. When I was nineteen, my parents
moved me to Dallas, Texas; because there were no jobs available up north during
the Carter administration. Yes, I’m that old.
I
got a job at a box company on the third day there. Billy Rose was the operator
of the machine I worked on. For a full year, he pestered me about my
relationship with Christ. I told him I believed Jesus was God, died on the
cross for my sins, and rose from the grave. I knew all of that, but he told me
that head knowledge was not what God was desiring. He wanted a relationship
with me, instead.
I
blew him off for the whole year. During
that year, he went through situations in his life that would have made me give
up, but he continued to have joy in his life. One day I finally told him I
wanted what he had. Instead of leading me in a prayer of salvation, he told me
to go home and read the book of John.
That
seemed kind of strange, but I did. I went home that night and read the book of
John. I read the book of John every night for several nights, until one day; it
was like a light finally turned on. Jesus
told His disciples He was preparing a place for them because He wanted them
with Him for eternity.
I
finally understood what Jesus wanted. He didn’t want head knowledge of who He
was. He wanted to have a relationship with me. He wanted to be with ME for
eternity. Wow! That blew me away. That night I asked Jesus to forgive me for
all the things I had done in my life, and to please save me from myself.
The
next day I told Billy what I did and we rejoiced together. I did ask him why he
did not share with me how to be saved. His answer has stuck with me all of my
life. He told me he did not want anyone to say I was saved because of a Baptist
or any other denomination. He wanted my testimony to be about what God said in
His Word. I was saved through the
testimony of God’s Word.
I
wish I could tell you that my walk with Christ has only brought happiness in my
life, but I can’t. I have experienced my share of valleys. But, when I look
back at those valleys, what I have realized is that Jesus was always there,
carrying me along the way. I am never alone!
For
the next several weeks, I will like to share with you how God has changed my
life. At the age of twenty-one, I became a child of God. My security and
destiny were settled that day. However,
four years ago I walked away from the Do’s and Don’ts
of Christianity. I had lived under the law for the first twenty-seven years as
a Believer. I knew I was saved by grace. Grace was a word I used and
understood, but never applied in my daily walk with Jesus.
I spent a year going through the Bible, studying who God the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit was. I also focused on who we were as His
creation, and for those of us who have given our lives to Jesus, His child.
Though I had pastored two churches in the past and had taught thousands of
Sunday School lessons and home Bible studies, I had found myself empty inside.
Traditionalism, Legalism, and Denominationalism had kept me from enjoying the
salvation I had experienced. However, that has all changed. I am now on a quest
for God’s own heart. I am living my life for Jesus Christ, remaining in His love.
I want to share with you who we are in Jesus Christ. We are
not just sinners saved by grace. We are so much more in our Heavenly Father’s
eyes. That is why I called this lesson series: Jesus, What Have You Done for Me Lately? We live our lives as if Jesus isn't doing anything, anymore. We act as if He stopped working after the Cross of Calvary.
Jesus, however, is actively desiring to have an intimate relationship with us. He has come to set us free, not only from our sins, but from the struggles we face in life. We just have to seek Him.
Open your heart to Him as you join me on our quest. Jeremiah 29:11-14, God told His children who were enslaved in Babylon:
Jesus, however, is actively desiring to have an intimate relationship with us. He has come to set us free, not only from our sins, but from the struggles we face in life. We just have to seek Him.
Open your heart to Him as you join me on our quest. Jeremiah 29:11-14, God told His children who were enslaved in Babylon:
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says
the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a
hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look
for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,’ says the Lord.
‘I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of
the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.’”
In America, we are not enslaved by another nation. However,
many of God’s children today are enslaved by Traditionalism,
Legalism, and Denominationalism. Too many of God’s children are living the Do’s
and Don’ts of Christianity instead of
enjoying the life He offers. Call out to our Heavenly Father, and He will
answer you. He will lead you to your destiny. He will lead you to His heart.
Meditate on This Truth
Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT)
“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes
from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life,
which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew
your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like
God—truly righteous and holy.”
What an awesome testimony! Thank you for sharing. You can't imagine how many you are going to reach, for Christ. GLORY TO GOD! Praise God that even when we walk through with blinders on, &(don't know it) He finds away to remove them & praise God for the Light, we now SEE! Now Amazing Grace really belongs to us now! Let's get to helping God remove those blinders! AMEN
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