I remember the day of my salvation like it was yesterday, even though it was 26 years ago. I remember the moments just before as well. I can still see the person I was, the choices I made, and the direction my life was heading. Sometimes we forget just how far God has brought us because we become so accustomed to walking in His grace. But we should never lose sight of what He rescued us from or the incredible love that made our rescue possible.
I know what kind of person I was and what I was capable of doing. I am not a violent or wicked person by nature, but I learned how to be violent, and looking back, I realize how wicked I truly was, and I was good at both. Because of my character defects and the moral shortcomings of my past, I have fervently prayed over John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. I often think, what if I would have died in my sin before I understood those beautiful words?
A few years back, as I was preparing to take a team down to Mexico for a mission trip, someone asked me, with all the problems going on with the cartels and the murders, what are you going to do if something happens? My response was quick and to the point: Stand In Front.
I have learned over the years that there are generally three types of people: ones that will run into a fire to help, ones that will run away from a fire in fear, and ones that will stand there, watch it burn, and record the flames. As followers of Christ, we need to ask ourselves which person we are becoming when someone else’s world is falling apart. It is easy to talk about loving people, but that love becomes real when we are willing to step toward someone in their darkest moment. When we go from being nice to being kind. Sometimes being the hands and feet of Jesus means being willing to stand where others are afraid to go.
A couple of years ago, there was an incident at the church I go to with a man in a mental health crisis. Not knowing what was going on, I was moved to get there and try to help in any way I could. I did not think about the shooting that happened in the Texas church a few weeks prior or what might happen to me at the moment. My heart was to bring peace to the situation and show the love of Jesus to those involved.
With all of the confusion and mayhem going on in the world around us today, my thoughts are, what about the lost soul that is creating the chaos, who does not know Jesus or His love? What will happen to him? We all deserve hell, but as Christians, we can thank God that Jesus came to save the world from it.
As I reflect back over my life and realize how many times that I know of that God saved me from death, and probably a whole lot more that I don’t, I am thankful for what is written in Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We all need to remember that He even came to save the shooters, the mentally ill, and the drug addicts. This hits home for me. I remember having a gun in my hand, ready to kill someone else and then myself, and God intervened. I know firsthand what it means to be someone others might have given up on because of addiction, someone whose life seemed headed toward destruction and death, yet someone God never stopped loving.
That is why I believe our calling is bigger than simply reaching those who are easy to love, easy to understand, or easy to welcome. It is more than asking someone to go to church, it is inviting them to become part of the Body of Christ. So many people are confused, the church is not the building, it is the people. We cannot allow fear, anger, or judgment to keep us from seeing the person behind the behavior, the pain behind the anger, or the soul behind the circumstances. We can stand against evil and still have compassion for the person who desperately needs Jesus.
I want to live out the words that C.T. Studd spoke: “Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell”.
May we all pray for the lost, especially those of us who were the most lost, because someone loved us enough to pray for us. I know they did for me.
May we never forget that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace, and no life is too broken for the love of Jesus to reach. There is room at the foot of the cross for the hurting, the forgotten, the struggling, the guilty, and the searching. Let us be people who extend the same mercy we were given, who welcome those who need hope, and who never stop believing that God can change a life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us when we were lost, for pursuing us when we were running in the wrong direction, and for sending Jesus to save us. Give us the courage to stand in the gap, the wisdom to respond with compassion rather than judgment, and the willingness to reach those who are hurting, broken, and far from You. Help us see every person through Your eyes, pray faithfully for those who need You, and live each day as a testimony of Your redeeming grace. In Jesus’ precious and powerful name, Amen.
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My BeLoved, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog
Special Note: I want to thank those who read what I write and are encouraged to support the ministry God has entrusted to me either one time or have decided to give on a monthly basis. I am encouraged to see certain verses playing out before my eyes like what is written in *Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.*
To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.
