Before I met the Lord at the age of nineteen, I didn’t know I needed a Savior, but I knew all about God. I went to Mass every Sunday. I even prayed to Him through the tears of my difficult childhood. I would characterize my relationship with Him as very superficial. I didn’t know what I was missing.
If you would have asked me then if I was going to Heaven, I would have said yes. I was a pretty good kid. I didn’t get into a ton of trouble. I wasn’t a cause for worry or concern. I was a good person. That merited eternal life, right? I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
On the night I met the Lord, the veil over my eyes was lifted. I had a revelation. Even though I was good, my good wasn’t good enough. My good would never be good enough. Me on my best day would never warrant me eternity. My righteousness to Him was as filthy rags.
It shook me. I was a sinner, and I was in need of a Savior. There, in a Thursday night service at LSU among a room full of college students, I confessed Christ as my Lord and Savior. That day changed everything. It changed how I viewed God, myself, and the world.
This present era we find ourselves in definitely tops the list of uncharted territory. We are surrounded by an enormous amount of fear and uncertainty. We do not know what the future holds, but we assuredly know Who holds the future.
. . . but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
The header for Romans 5 in my Bible says “Peace with God Through Faith.” Don’t we need more peace and more faith today possibly more than ever? My church has been consistently reminding each other that church has never been about a building; the Church is us. It’s you and me, the very temples of God’s Holy Spirit.
My friend Aimee has been saying this can be our finest hour as Christians. It totally can be. We have a rare opportunity to make choices that will display how the love of God is shown.
This is such a beautiful time where the Church can be the Church beyond the walls of the church. There are countless open doors around us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Who around you is suffering? Who around you is feeling far from Him? Who are around you doesn’t yet know Him?
We were made for deep and intimate connection. I pray that we would not be afraid to connect with those around us during this season. Reaching out can look like you and your kids baking for your neighbors, taking walks and asking your neighbors if they or someone they know needs prayer. It can be making grocery store trips for the elderly in your neighborhood and church. It can also look like having genuine conversations with neighbors you don’t know very well and asking them how they are doing and even if they have a relationship with God.
May we be people who find ourselves in the secret place with the Lord so He can love us and send us out with His love, His truth, and His purpose. May we be people who make the most of our time here on earth. May we be people who rise up in bold faith in the midst of a world gripped with fear.
We are here for such a time as this.
We, the body of Christ.
We, His ambassadors.
We, the salt and light.
We, the kings and priests.
So much of the world is frightened, hurting, and confused. So many in the world are lost, broken, and dying. What better time to sacrifice and lay down every desire and proclaim the truth of the gospel found in Romans 5:8 and love our neighbor? For the joy set before Him, Christ endured the cross. His joy was a redeemed relationship with His creation. God knew before He ever even formed Adam that sin would enter the world and separate us from Him. He knew, and He still created us in His own image. He still went to great lengths to pursue us at our worst, and He pursues us to this very day.
God loves the world that He made, and it is His heart that all would come to know Him. He made the greatest sacrifice, and now is the time we can show His love to others.
Tell me about a time when you sacrificed in order to share the gospel,
meet a need, or simply love someone with the love of God.
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One of my love languages is giving. My urge to gift does not match our finances so it’s been an interesting journey to honor my husband by not overspending yet meeting needs, loving on others to encourage them with meals or tokens to say we see you & we care. One of the out of my comfort zone amazing twists God has introduced is hearing myself ask how can I pray for you & then hearing my voice over the phone or standing in a room praying with someone that expressed a need! Never would have predicted that for me BUT GOD! I love the thought that this could be the finest hour for Christians. Thank you for sharing!
Ruth, thank you for sharing! I LOVE this! I’m a gift giver too and it’s so fun to see how God shows up to bless people in other creative ways when we are obedient and have a joyful heart.
Thank you for challenging us to use this time to be intentional in serving others and being bold in our faith. People are hurting. People are afraid. People are without hope. The world needs us. What a witness we can be when we keep our eyes on Jesus and outward on others.
Amen and Amen! Thank you so much for sharing Mary Ruth!
Beautiful reminder, Karina! Thank you!
Thank you for reading Linda!
Karina, thanks for your encouragement. Some years ago when I worked at a store at outlet mall I had a co-worker that had some issues in her life. I talked with her about Jesus a times. She wound up attending church with her husband where my husband and I attend. Later she became a Christian and was baptized. I could see how her life changed and so thankful to know her. Plant seeds and prayers help people’s lives.
It only takes a spark get a fire going. …song
Amen Becky! That is a beautiful testimony! Thank you for sharing!
Just the way you wrote about that shows what a light you are in Jesus’ name, and inspires me, Becky. Thank you and God bless you
Karina, you have blessed me so much this morning , and not for the first time, with your wise words and motivation to share Jesus more. Thank you so much, and may God bless you always!
thank you!
Thank you for reading Portia!
Thank you Karina. Great message! I too knew God as a child, but I never realized “how lonely” my life was….until “I confessed Christ as my Lord and Savior. That day changed everything. It changed how I viewed God, myself, and the world”
“We, the salt and light” I’ve learned to be bold and confident in my faith. I am forever grateful everyday.
Thank you God \0/
Amen! Beautiful Janet! Thank you for sharing!
I pray the Light of peace, joy, confidence, and contentment shines bright through us and to those around us. May God also provide divine appointments for us to share about the Source–His Son Jesus!
Yes and Amen! Thank you for sharing Nancy!
Karina what a beautiful message. We are that are saved are here for such a time as this. Especially when so many people in theses day. Especially those that don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ Loves them. In the way the world has been this last while with Covid and all that happened. So many people so scared. For so many different reasons. Loss of job could be one. Fear of some in the family especially if they are elderly taking Covid and passing away. There are lots of other reasons too. So we the saved are here for such a time as this. To shine the light of The Lord Jesus Christ’s love in this world to the hurting at this time. If we can. Even if it is only one person we can make smile who is hurting no matter what the reason is. To tell them they are special. That Jesus loves them. They can pray and hand whatever they are going through over to Jesus. If they will listen to you. Or you just get to be the light of Jesus in front of them. By saying I will pray for you. I can see you could do pray if you see them sad. For what ever reason. But we also have to tread carefully with our words and not let them think we over showing Jesus to them. As they might not be ready for that. We could put them of. They might just want to know you care. Praying for them that is can be small start. Just being a friend to them and living your life for Jesus in front of them in a nice simple caring way. Without putting them off. You have a better chance of letting them know Jesus is the best friend to help them at this time. No matter what they are going through. If they trust you. In time hopefully that person or persons will see Jesus in you want what you have. That is Jesus for themselves too. They will get to know Jesus is the best friend to have like the song. “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” you get the song on YouTube. So we the saved are here for such a this time. Love today’s reading love all the incourage readings. Keeping you all in Prayer. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xx
Amen Dawn! So good! Thank you for reading and sharing!
Karina I love your reading incourage. I loved what you shared. Thank you replying to what I said. My God richly bless you and everyone incourage. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland. In my prayers xxx
This is just beautiful!!!! Amen!!!!
Karina,
I, too, was a “token Christian” when younger. Sure I attended church & got very involved in choirs, youth, etc. But as my pastor puts it I was the “I’m a Christian because I go to church” person. It took getting married. going to a Christian church & hearing the gospel message of Acts 2:38 “Repent be baptized every one of you for the remission of your sins.” It hit me like a ton of bricks that though I had been sprinkled (Methodists do) I was never baptized & accepted Christ as my Savior. Since that time I have developed a deep relationship with Him.
God has made me an encourager & lover of gift giving. When someone says family sick/hospital I am quick to cook a meal & pray for them. Years ago a friend was having medical issues with her dad, step dad & mom. During that time I cooked/gathered food for her & hubby 3 different times. When my pastor’s wife said they were going to move her mom here from WV I quickly made a chicken pot pie for them. Something to eat when they got back. When mom died I made a loaf of cranberry Orange bread. When my in-laws got sick I would gather a baked spaghetti casserole from left overs (feed the multitude) & some fruit & take to them monthly. Would make 2 casseroles for her birthday-she could have respite from cooking. Just yesterday I took her a whopper & some cranberry orange bread to enjoy as she is home from rehab. Constantly cooking or getting food for people. My way of loving on them.
Blessings 🙂