A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Matthew 8:2-3
My brothers and sisters in Christ, if you were that leper that Jesus cleansed, would you stay quiet? And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them. News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.” So too, Jesus healed me and I am spreading the word so that everyone who is diseased and hears my story, will come to Jesus to be cleansed. My God is an awesome God!
I am probably sounding like a broken record, but, I’ll keep singing the same ole song, it’s a story that for me will never be weary, because I’m telling the old, old, story, of Jesus and his love that never grows old. God has shown me his love throughout my life and I am truly thankful. I am telling my story! WHAT IS YOUR STORY?
My brothers and sisters in Christ, when you know where God brought you from, and the many situations he has worked out for you, it becomes a song in your heart that you always want to sing. Only those who have not yet had that experience would not understand; but, like one song-writer said, “When I think of the goodness of Jesus and what he has done for me, my soul cries out, Hallelujah, thank God for saving me”. If you understand why I am telling this old, old, story; SHARE IT! SHARE YOUR STORY!
“Have you a heart that’s weary, tending a load of care? Are you a soul that’s seeking rest from the burden you bear? Do you know my Jesus? Do you know my friend? Have you heard that he loves you, and that he will abide to the end?”
My brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus knows your disappointments, he hears each time you cry, he understands your heartaches and he will dry the tears from your eyes. So, if your heart is weary and you are tending a load of care, if your soul is seeking rest from the burden you bear, you don’t have to go it alone. “Do you know my Jesus? Do you know my friend? Have you heard that he loves you, and that he will abide to the end?” Oh yes! Jesus picked me up when I was weary and caused me to stand, now he is that friend who is continually holding my hand. When you come to know Jesus, you will never walk alone.
Come home! A home where God lives is full of joy.
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me, why should we tarry and heed not his mercy, mercy for you and for me. Come home, come home, ye who are weary come home, earnestly tenderly Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home. My brothers and sisters in Chris, over fifteen years ago I was tired and weary when I heard the call and accepted the call from God to come home, and I could tell you that my life has taken on a whole new meaning. I have had many ups and downs, I have traveled through winding roads and steep inclines, but through it all, God has walked with me and I am confident of this very thing, that where I am in my life is where God wants me to be and as he leads me, I am daily following him for I know that God does not take or make any wrong turns. I am living in his presence because in his presence is fullness of joy. Praise the Lord!
I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. Isaiah 44:9
My brothers and sisters in Christ, God has called us his chosen ones and because we are precious in his sight, he said, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish.” Therefore, if he has chosen us and promised us his protection, is it too much to ask for us to come to him willingly?
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 44:22
“Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.”
My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Isaiah 55:8
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Return to Him against whom you have so blatantly rebelled, O children of Israel, for though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.” Our God is an awesome God!
I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:7
Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, are you ready to find God? He knows where we are at all times, but he wants you and I to seek him out, he wants us to diligently search for him. How prepared are you? For when we seek God, sometimes he allows us to travel winding roads and steep inclines, but we must stay the course, we must never give up for when we find God, we find peace, joy and love.
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? Romans 2:4
My brothers and sisters in Christ, God has been wonderfully kind and tolerant with us not to mention patient, yet we take it all for granted, we refuse to turn from our evil ways, “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.”
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51
God can create in you a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you, he did it for me. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment, for we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”