Forever Free

"His heart should be our heart."

JESUS CARES about people. He came to save people. All He did, all He said, when He lived on this earth was to reveal God’s love for us. It’s in every action, in the giving of His life to be here and the releasing of His life to fulfill God’s promise to a thousand generations. There’s no exception to it, and He has no regrets. He dined with sinners. He served with fishermen. He protected a woman caught in the act of adultery. He cherished children, calling them the nature of heaven.

His heart should be our heart. We’ve made church about all the wrong things. I’ve heard salvation, which is the purpose of the church, taught as attendance numbers, as discipleship groups, as a lifestyle, and I’ve seen the altar removed to make room for electronics, concert promotions, and special seating. I have heard it reduced to a QR Code. Another actually avoided giving an altar call, leaving those seeking Jesus to visit the stand in the lobby. Electronics are supposed to make us MORE ACCESSIBLE to the hurting. They are not to make our lives easier and avoid responsibility. It is possible to justify our actions to the point that what is wrong becomes right in our thinking. Criminals … devils … do this all the time.

What is Jesus’ heart for people? What does He want to do in me, and what does He want to do through me? Help others. Jesus healed the sick so He could see them happy and free from pain and torment. Jesus DID NOT call for legions of angels to help Him claim the throne because arrogance of power is not His way (Matthew 26:53). His way, God’s way, was to give of Himself so completely that there was nothing left of Him to give. He gave all of His human life. He gave all of His eternal life. Eternal life is QUALITY OF LIFE. It is living a better life, one beyond our understanding. This is the words of Philippians 4:7, where we talk to God and He pours out more peace than we can grasp. This is the words of Proverbs 3:5, which specifically says to “lean not on thine own understanding.” What we don’t understand, we can know is in His care, and we can keep going forward in strength and joy anyway. Jesus wants us to not carry the care of life but to place it at His feet.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]” (Matthew 11:28 AMPC)

This is the image we are to project in the church. That of a place of complete acceptance for every man, without condemnation on wide display for who they are, what they’ve lived through, and what they’ve yet to overcome. We’re so worried, anymore, about being on one side of the political aisle that we’ve condemned those we don’t agree with and called it righteousness. We’ve taken on the Holy Spirit’s job of conviction as our own. But, no, our part is to LOVE ONE ANOTHER (John 13:34). That was Jesus’ instruction. That is Jesus’ instruction. We must stop trying to “come up with” something to say to force repentance and just be Jesus, who defended the weak and loved the arrogant, in His greatest desire to set them free. Forever free.

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” (Luke 23:34)

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

Image by Karen .t from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com