Accepted In The Beloved

Accepted In The Beloved

John 6:37 (BSB)

“Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.”

This morning, as I was thinking about this verse, I was reminded that there are times when guilt, failure, loneliness, or even the opinions of other people can make me wonder, “Does God really accept me?”

Maybe you have felt that way too.

But Jesus gives us a comforting answer. He says that the one who comes to Him, He will never drive away.

That means I don't have to hide from Jesus when I fail. I don't have to try to make myself worthy of His love through religious effort or good works. I can come to Him honestly, repentantly, and with faith in Jesus alone.

Jesus bore the condemnation my sins deserved when He died on the cross. His righteousness is what I need—not my own.

Romans 8:1 (BSB) says:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

What a wonderful promise!

My standing before God isn't based on how well I performed today. It isn't based on whether I had a good day or a bad day. If I belong to Jesus, I am accepted by God because of what Jesus has done for me.

I am accepted in the Beloved.

That doesn't give me an excuse to continue in sin. Instead, God's grace gives me the freedom and desire to turn from sin and follow Jesus in grateful obedience.

So today, I want to remember this: when I fail, I can come back to Jesus. When I feel unworthy, I can look to Jesus. And when I wonder if God will receive me, I can trust the promise of Jesus—He will never drive me away.

If you do not know Christ, you can come to Him today. You don't have to clean yourself up first. Come to Him in repentance and faith, trusting in what Jesus Christ has done through His death and resurrection. He is the One who saves, forgives, and receives those who come to Him. 

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...”

(Acts 16:31)

God's Kindness And Peace

God's Kindness And Peace

Isaiah 54:10 "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee."

I thought this would be a good opportunity for you and me to thank the Lord for this fantastic promise. God's kindness shall not depart from followers of Jesus. 

What wonderful, great love! As Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:4-5: "But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),"

All this is according to God's mercy, as we read in Titus 3:5:

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

And then there is God's peace for you and me: peace in knowing our Lord Jesus Christ paid the price for our awful sins, and He loved us enough to rise from the dead. He keeps on giving us His peace as we seek Him out today. 

Philippians 4:6-7 says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Let's not get discouraged today. Jesus is with us this moment. He will give us victory. And if you have not yet placed your faith in Jesus Christ, now is the time. Talk to Him now in prayer and begin your path filled with God's kindness and goodness.

Resting In Christ

Resting in Christ

Genesis 2:2–3 BSB says:

“And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.”

When God rested on the seventh day, it wasn't because He was tired. Isaiah 40:28 tells us that God “will not grow tired or weary.”

God rested because His work of creation was complete.

The seventh day became a pattern of rest for Israel, but it also points us to something even greater—the true rest found in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:9–10 says, “There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For whoever enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.”

And on the cross, Jesus cried out, “It is finished.”

Just as God rested after completing creation, we can rest in Christ because Jesus completed the work of our redemption.

We don't have to earn God's acceptance through our own efforts or religious rituals. Salvation is God's free gift through faith in Jesus Christ.

So if you are weary from trying to measure up, come to Jesus. Rest in His grace. Trust in His finished work. And follow Him each day in the peace that only Jesus can give.

Pray for Changed Hearts

Pray for Changed Hearts

Deuteronomy 30:6 KJV says:

“And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.”

As I read this verse, I was reminded of people I know and love who seem resistant to the Gospel. Maybe there is someone like that in your life too. We can share the truth about Jesus, pray for them, and long to see them come to faith. But sometimes we wonder, “Will they ever believe?”

This verse gives me hope because it reminds me that God is the One who changes hearts.

We cannot make someone believe in Jesus. But we can pray and ask God to do what only He can do—to open their eyes, soften their hearts, and draw them to Jesus Christ.

So if there is someone on your heart today, don't give up praying. Ask God to bring them to repentance and faith in Jesus, who died for their sins and rose again.

The same God who changed hearts throughout Scripture is still changing hearts today.

If you are not yet trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation, turn to Him today. Believe in Him, repent of your sins, and follow Him.

Him Who Loves Us

Him Who Loves Us

Revelation 1:5 NIV

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.”

As I read this verse, I noticed those beautiful words: “Him who loves us.”

Think about the love of Jesus toward you right now. His love is there. He is there with you.

If you do not know the saving love of Jesus, I encourage you to trust Him alone to save you and forgive you for all your sins.

And if you know the Lord Jesus, take a moment to thank Him for all His loving acts toward you.

When considering the worst thing you may have to face, consider the worst thing our Lord Jesus had to face—the cross. He faced it for you.

Jesus said in John 15:13:

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

The love of Jesus is shown to us by His willingness to die for us.

Romans 5:8 says:

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

What a wonderful thought to carry with us today: Jesus loves us. He proved that love at the cross, and through His blood He has freed us from our sins.

If you have never trusted Jesus alone for salvation, trust Him today.

And if you already belong to Him, thank Him for His amazing love.

This is a special day—a day to remember that you are loved by Jesus.