Food for Thought
The Bread of Life ...
My wife and I trust you will enjoy or have enjoyed this bread as much as we enjoyed preparing it for you and as you do, allow us to share about someone who has helped us more than anyone else on earth, who sustained us and kept us going … after we both lost our spouses…
It’s about a relationship (NOT religion) that was our rock, comfort, and strength. About the One we were created to serve, that will satisfy more than your spouse, closest friend, child, or parent; more meaningful that even your most prized possession, favorite food, or past time; more lasting than the winning play, smoothest wine, or prettiest clothes; and more significant than your image – prestige or reputation…
In the hustle and bustle of your day, we ask you to stop for a moment and ponder this. Imagine for a moment that you are starving and there is famine in the land … People around you are in hopeless despair, agony, and are literally dying. Then, quite undeservingly, you discover a banquet - a feast of choicest meats, delicious delicacies, exquisitely prepared dishes, and your favorite desserts. Not only that but imagine that it is unlimited and there is room for everyone! Once you have tasted this and have been filled, would you keep it to yourself? We hope not!
Our best friend, Jesus Christ, is like that banquet. You see, God loves you so much! He has an irrational love for people. What kind of love? A ferocious, all-encompassing love like a bear for her cubs; tender and loyal like a mother for her baby; strong like a father for his son; passionate like a bride for her groom.
BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM: you see God is GOOD…and we are NOT. Have you EVER told a lie in your life (us too)? How about stolen anything (yup, us too)? How many of the so-called good things you do have selfish motives (ouch)? Unless you have lived a PERFECT life, if you were judged by the Ten Commandments, you would be guilty, just like us. We have ALL missed the mark and have racked up a moral deficit called SIN. The penalty of sin is eternal separation from God, or Hell. Good deeds cannot cancel out sin any more than driving the speed limit most of the time prevents you from getting a ticket when you’re speeding (I’m working on driving slower myself)! Everyday our moral deficit grows larger – it would be hopeless if it were not for God’s amazing plan…
THE QUESTION: HOW does a Holy, perfect, righteous God restore a relationship with those He loves (you and us) in spite of our shortcomings and still maintain His integrity and justice since we cannot be good enough in our own efforts to please God?
IT’S SIMPLY AMAZING: someone who was perfect needed to pay the penalty for our sins, to satisfy the justice of God, to settle that moral deficit. The GOOD NEWS is that out of God’s LOVE for you and me, He sent His Precious Son, His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, who was without sin, to pay this moral deficit! Jesus laid His life down, shed His blood, and suffered the torturous death of crucifixion and died declaring “It is finished” when God poured out His punishment for our sins on His Son. God’s love for you runs so deep, that He allowed His Son to suffer and it pleased God to bruise Him, to crush His Only Son, to pour out His wrath (that we deserved) on Jesus so that justice could be served and we would be set FREE. OUR DEBT (FINE) WAS PAID BY JESUS CHRIST!
THE SOLUTION: by trusting in Jesus Christ ALONE AS LORD (not on our good deeds), we can be seen as perfect (righteous) before God! We cannot earn it and we certainly do not deserve it. This gift, like any gift, it is not yours automatically: you must choose to either accept or reject it.
(A) Admit that you (like us) are a sinner in need of forgiveness and REPENT, which means to turn around, make an about face from your current self-centered way.
(B) Believe that He died and paid the penalty for your sins, satisfying God’s justiceas payment for your sins, rose again and now lives at the right hand of the Father.
(C) COMMIT your life to Jesus Christ to be your LORD and SAVIOR
The Word of God says, “if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10). He promises to come into our lives if we REPENT AND BELIEVE - despite the mess and even if there is dirty laundry (we all have dirty laundry – if we didn’t we’d be perfect)!
BUT COUNT THE COST: Jesus will NOT accept a casual, once-a-week, call me only if you need me relationship! He not only LOVES YOU and DESIRES to have an INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP, HE DESERVES AND EXPECTS to be your LORD = first place in your life. As your Lord, He will never leave you BUT He cannot be your fire insurance to keep you from hell if you think simply saying a prayer is all you need. True repentance (changing direction) leads to surrender. Let me be clear – we cannot earn our salvation – it is a gift. BUT the evidence of true salvation will be a changed life! PLEASE heed the sobering words of Jesus in Matt 7:21: 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” If I claim to know Jesus as my Lord YET live a life of continual, willful sin, living for my own selfish desires... I may very well hear Him say “DEPART FROM ME. I NEVER KNEW YOU!“ (Matt 7:23). The GOOD NEWS is as you seek His help and put Him first in EVERY area of your life, He, through Holy Spirit, will help you live right!
HIS GRACE THAT SAVES YOU WILL ALSO EMPOWER YOU TO LIVE RIGHT AS YOU SURRENDER TO HIM MOMENT BY MOMENT!
IF YOU ARE READY to have Jesus as LORD and SAVIOR, then pray this: “Lord Jesus, I have committed sin and I desire to change, and I realize that I cannot attain God’s perfect standard myself. I REPENT from my evil, selfish ways. I CHOOSE to leave my old ways behind me. I CHOOSE to live for you, my life is no longer my own. I CHOOSE You as LORD. I BELIEVE You showed Your love by paying the penalty for my sins by dying on a cross and rising from the dead. Forgive me, cleanse me, and make me the kind of person You want me to be. I confess You now as LORD and SAVIOR. From this day forward I choose to LIVE FOR YOU, my life is not my own. Help me to become the person you want me to be! Thank You Jesus for hearing my prayer. I confess You as Savior and Lord! Amen.”
IF YOU HAVE PRAYED THAT PRAYER AND MEANT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART, you can believe that from this day forward, by faith, Jesus is in your life! BUT this is JUST THE BEGINNING! To STAY right with God, it is ESSENTIAL to learn more about Him and His principles to stay on that right and narrow path and achieve all He has for you. There WILL be challenges that will either strengthen you or derail you. So PREPARE YOURSELF by finding a church that preaches the Bible and the uncompromised Word of God and get involved in community and Bible study. Regular prayer and fellowship with other believers will encourage and strengthen you for the battles ahead. As you grow as a Christian, you will be able to help and encourage others. (II Cor. 1)
Perhaps you are a Christian but have gotten lukewarm to the things of God. Check out Matt 7:21-24, www.notafan.com, and email us with any concerns.
It is NOT about joining a particular church but here are a couple of suggestions:
1. Time Square Church www.tsc.nychas two campuses (NY and NY) and can be reached at212.541.6300. They also have gatherings at people’s homes throughout the area where you can meet some wonderful people, share and be encouraged in practical and spiritual matters.
2. Liquid Church http://liquidchurch.com has multiple campuses throughout NJ and can be reached at 973-879-8655
You can also go http://www.jesuswalk.com to listen to great messages to grow on. To hear a good word: www.juststopandthink.com. If you would like additional information or if you have just invited Jesus into your life today, please call, email, or write to share this wonderful news and ask for free literature.
Any and all feedback is welcome, whether positive or negative! If this has helped you, pass it on or email me for your copy!
For evidence of God: www.reasons.org
For a detective’s perspective: https://coldcasechristianity.com
Tom and G: tom4theo@gmail.com or tomng4theo@gmail.com
(If this a blessing, feel free to pass it on! Do you have corrections/suggestions?
Kindly email to tom4theo@gmail.com) © 2020 / rev: 20.08.09 / Tom & G
