Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from John 12:44-50
44 But Jesus shouted out, “The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me, 45 and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day. 49 For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told me.”
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Jn 12:44-50). Biblical Studies Press.
I always wonder why we always find it so hard to receive a gift. We always want to find a way that we can make it on our own. This is true of things. It is also true when it comes to God's grace. I have the bible on cd and was listening through the Gospel of John when today's scripture leaped out at me.
Our text here is one of Jesus last public comments. It has a very important message that I think could relieve the stress of guilt from countless people.
Jesus says " If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day. "
Jesus tells us the way, he gives us his word, but it is as if he knows that we are going to stumble. I guess that is why Jesus is part of God's story. That is why we need Jesus. He says if you hear and do not obey, I am not going to judge you. Jesus says He came to save us not judge us. If you have even the smallest bit of faith in Jesus then we belong to Him and he has come to save us.
Judgement is for those that reject Jesus outright, they are the ones to be judged on the last day by his word.
So failing to be perfect is not going to place us before the judgement seat of Christ on the last day to be judged. So what happens if we are not perfect? More grace will be applied to us. Remember Jesus came to save us.
The funny thing is, is that in accepting the fact that you are not perfect actually forces you closer to Christ. He has the words of eternal life because of the increased grace. Finding that you can not do it on your own, causes you to submit your life further to Christ with the result that you are changed from within by the spirit which then assists you to become closer to being perfect. We are never fully perfected until we go home to the Lord. Until then we are a work in progress.
So the next time you stumble in sin, do not fret, but give yourself further to Christ, trusting that with the Holy Spirit He will change you from within and move you along to perfection.
This will be a tough message if you believe that you are saved and now perfect. Living in the freedom of Grace is hard on one's pride because in the freedom of grace you have to accept that you are not in control but God is. You may be close to perfection, but only christ fufilled the law completely. Only Christ was perfect and we will be just like him when he takes us home to be with him.
Amen
Musical Encouragement Beauty Of Grace - Krystal Meyers
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