Friday, February 27, 2009

They Got Their Feet Wet

Joshua 3:2-3 and 13-17
“And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the hosts; And they commanded the people, saying, When ye se the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levities bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; and as they bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overflowed all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose upon and heap very far from the city of Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan."


Amazing isn’t it! There is so much in these verses. I have tried to glean just some of the wonders presented here to share with you.

First, the people were told what they were to look for or what would be their sign and what they were to do when they saw the sign. When they saw the ark being carried by the priests they were to spring into action. They were to leave their place (comfort zone) and go after it.

Many of us wear out the carpet and our knees asking God for leadership in things that he has given guidance in His word. The Bible is full of commands and other guidelines for us to follow and we don’t have to even ask if it is god’s will. Is it God’s will for you to share the gospel with your lost neighbor? Sure Acts 1:8 says we are to be witnesses first in Jerusalem or locally. We have been told; don’t waste your time and God’s time asking if this is His will.

The Israelites had been told, when they see the ark being carried by the priests to get up and go after it. Was it necessary to have a prayer meeting to seek God’s will in this? NO! They had God’s directive.

As the priests carried the ark, did they have a prayer meeting seeking God’s leadership about crossing the Jordan? NO! They had been told that as soon as the soles of their feet touched the water that it would be cut off and stand upon a heap.

Now visualize this. The priests carrying the ark of the covenant are walking toward the Jordan which is flooded and out of it banks and over a half mile behind them come all the Israelites weary from their travels around the wilderness. Was this the blind leading the blind? Yes, in some ways it truly was. The priests had blind faith that when they got to the water’s edge and stepped into the water that God would do as he had promised and the Israelites had faith that God would take them across the river into the promise land.
Now visualize this. Here we all go, heading toward the work God has given us to do. Maybe it is crossing a river but maybe it is crossing a street to witness to our neighbor. As we near the edge what do we do? Fall to our knees in prayer seeking god’s will whether we should cross that barrier before us to do as God has directed or simply continue forward. Too often with all good intentions we allow ourselves to be hindered by doubt or fear.

I wonder if the priest worried as they neared the swollen banks of Jordan if they might drown. Or be swept away as the waters rushed to their destination in the salt sea. As we come closer to the barrier before us do we fear what might happen to us? As we cross that street will we be hit by a wild driver, will the neighbor’s dog bite us, or will we fall as we cross their yard.

The priests marched forward and as their feet touched the water’s surface a miracle happened. The lord, the Lord of all the earth, caused the water flowing to the sea to start piling up in a heap. Have you ever seen water pile up in a heap? It did that day. That is a miracle but it says that the priests stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan.

No where in this passage is there any mention of a week or two of warm sunny days with a nice brisk wind? How was the ground of the river bed firm and dry? It doesn’t say how God chose to do this but it does say the ground was firm and dry. A miracle? Yes!
Now let’s back up and tell this story the way we might have done it if we were there.

When the officers went around telling the people to be prepared this would lead to a business meeting and the appointment of committees to handle each aspect of this task. Some at the meeting would have suggested buying boats, someone might even have suggested building a bridge, but for sure most would have agreed it is not common sense to just walk out in the water and think we can get across. It is too deep at flood time.

If we all finally agreed to buy boats the next question is where is the money. We can’t do this until we have enough boats and we can’t buy the boats until we have the money in our account. I guess we will have to postpone entering the promise land to we can get the money raised. Does this sound familiar? How often does God tell a church to do a work and the response is we must have the money first?

Remember the phrase in verse 13 which says ”the Lord of all the earth.” The Lord of all the earth is the same Lord that was able then to stop the river’s flow and to dry the ground. Amazing that he is not now able to provide yours and my meager needs.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen".

Substance means real, three dimensional and evidence is facts so faith is real facts, not just pipe dreams or wishes. You don’t find my name in the hall of Fame of Faith heroes. I lack faith. I pray for more faith. I am not writing these words to you because I do them and you don’t. God gave me this. maybe just for me but it won’t hurt you to take it and chew on it and see if at least part of it is digestible for you.

What we do for God without faith doesn’t please him. We must operate on faith and through faith to please God.

Sometimes we just have to throw the world’s ways of doing things out the door and bear the ridicule of our neighbors when we follow God’s plan.

Spreading His Word, Don

Monday, February 23, 2009

Instructions for Assembling a Saint

Have you ever opened that big box, which contains a purchase you just made, to find pieces and parts innumerable? Somewhere in all that mess are one or more sheets of paper called the “assembly instructions”.

God in His infinite wisdom has provided us with assembly instructions and a picture of the finished item – a Saint. If you look closely, the “Saint” you see is “saved by grace”. God wishes for all to be saved. In 2 Peter 3:9, the last part of that verse says, "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. Those that receive this offer have taken one step toward God’s plan.

A saint will become a Christian, meaning “Christ-like”. Just because a person is ‘saved’ doesn’t mean they are Christ like. Romans 8:29 “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born of many brethren.” God’s purpose is to transform the saint into the image of Jesus.

The final purpose for the saint is for fellowship with God. When God first created Adam and Eve in the garden, the Bible tells us that in the cool of the day that God walked and talked with Adam. The Creator and the creature had fellowship; but that was broken by Adam’s sin.

1 John 1:3-7 tells us of that fellowship regained, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message, which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

God has a unique plan for each person. For each person born, God has a plan that will take that person from birth through death into fellowship with Him in Heaven. God’s plan for your life was established long before you were born. In Jeremiah 1:5, we read that God knew Jeremiah before he was created in the womb of his mother. God had already set forth the plan for Jeremiah’s life; to be a prophet. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Is that just a mass of unmeaning cells in a woman’s womb? I don’t think so. Why would an “all knowing” God ordain such a mass to be a prophet? In Luke 1:44 “For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salvation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” A mass of cells without organization or importance leaps in a mother’s womb over the news that the Savior is to be born.

You and I are no different from Jeremiah or any other creature of God. God has a plan for our total existence before we are born. The more closely we follow God’s plan, the greater is our ability and opportunity to serve Him and to fellowship with Him.

God does not abandon us at the graveside. Luke 16:22 “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; the rich man died and was buried.” Even in death the saint is not forgotten, but is personally cared for by God’s angels. The saint is given a personal escort to the throne room of God. 2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

God has established the criteria for a “Saint” and set forth a plan for each of us. God has also provided the instruction manual. God has given us His Word, the Bible, to provide the step-by-step instructions to attain His plan. Psalms 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” We have the instructions, the goal is defined, and the finished product is assured if we will only follow the instructions.

How many of us open the carton, remove all the parts, scan over the assembly instructions and say to ourselves “I can do it, I don’t need to waste time reading and following the assembly instructions? How many of us do the same thing with the instructions provided by God? I don’t need that; if I read them I wouldn’t understand them anyway. I’ll do it my way. You have a choice in every situation to do it your way and you will construct a final product, but it won’t be the product desired by God.

Now we will open the carton we have before us and see if we can assemble a “Saint”. No, this is not a job for just one person, for this job to be done properly, it will take hundreds or even thousands of other people. I do have the responsibility to do my part of the assembly. If I fail to do my part, the assembly will not be properly done on this new prospective saint and I will have deviated from God’s plan for my life. Even the prospective saint will be, after reaching a point in the assembly, responsible for some of their own completion.

As we open the carton, we take out the parts required for beginning the assembly. What do we find? A 6 pound, 9 ounce baby. On examining the contents, we find the baby to be healthy. If the baby had been unhealthy or handicapped in some way, we might have required additional tools for the assembly. Since our baby is healthy, let’s see what tools are required for the successful completion of our part in this task. The tool list says we first need the instructions - God’s Word. This is a tool we will need through out the assembly. We will need to keep this tool close by.

The second tool required is a good example. Barry Splichuk said, “The country clubs, the cars, the boats, your assets may be ample, but the best inheritance you can leave your kids is to be a good example.” Children learn by example, children mimic what they see others do whether it is good or bad.

This list of tools seem to grow as the child grows, thus the need to continue to go back through the instructions again. As our Father, God understands what it’s like to raise up a child. He understands the challenges required to mold and help develop character and ability in a child … HIS child … you … me. In His love for us, He gives us very detailed instructions to help us not only raise our children; but He also gave us instructions for our own assembly. God loves us so much that with the Holy Spirit and the willing hands of His servants, we were given a love letter filled with instructions to not only become saved by grace but to also become the “Saints” of the One true God.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Why Don't I? continued

Part two of what I have to say is directed at us saved sinners.

Why I Don't I Serve God?

I previously presented the Gospel plan of Salvation to the lost sinners. The purpose of Salvation is not to provide you with a "fire escape". Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works."

Yes, you are saved for the purpose of serving God or doing good works. To those of us who know that we are saved, why don't we serve God or produce the good works He wants? There are probably hundreds of good excuses, but for the next few moments think on these. Some of which I have used.
FEAR. Yes, fear of what people say or might say. We all like the acceptance of those around us. We fear the possible rejection from our family, friends, and neighbors if we agree to serve God in the manner He requests.

We fear change. We all have a comfort Zone and we don't like to have anyone or anything to push us beyond the boundaries of that comfort zone. "Lord, I am very happy doing just as I do now, and I love you very much, but just don't ask me to change and have to do something new for you".

We fear failure. Many of us think,if I do decide to do what God is asking of me - I might fail. We need to realize, it is impossible to fail (truly fail in God's eyes) if we are doing as God has requested. Remember when God asked you to do anything for Him. Along with the rest comes the guarantee that He will always be with us and will provide all that is necessary to accomplish the work. When we surrender to this leading of God the responsibility for the results becomes God's. God asks us to do a work not to produce results, we are simply workers; He is the producer.

Another reason I don't do as God asks is that I am busy serving God. Whoa, did I just say what I think I said? How can I use serving God as an excuse for not serving God.

Allow me to give you an example of how this can be used and is often used by the good church person. Back in the late 70's and early 80's, I served full time as the superintendent of Mt. View Baptist Camp. During a portion of my time there I experienced probably the most spiritually back-slidden state I have been in since I was saved. I am sorry God, I can't do whatever the request might be; 'I am very busy serving you full time. This is where you put me and I am busy doing your work'.

How many of us hide behind the fact we have a position in the church of service even when God is asking us to serve in another way? It can be a very easy excuse to use. Remember we are in a process of being conformed to the image of Jesus and a process is motion not remaining as we are.

A very common excuse for failing to serve God and produce good works is that we say we are too busy. Better be very careful when you use the excuse you are too busy. Maybe you say, my job just takes all my time & I would serve if I just had the time. Remember, God can give you the time to serve Him by removing the obstacles. We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

We are to be willing to forsake all ~ our families, our vocation, our everything to serve God. Jesus must have priority in our lives.

The last reason I will give for not serving is partying. I am not talking about a social gathering or a drunken bash. How many are guilty of hosting a pity party? I am guilty!

Circumstances in our lives, wrong choices and decisions apply stress and we find ourselves concentrating on the problem and removing our focus from God. As we deepen our involvement in our problem, we become angry and bitter at God. We begin to see God as the source of our problems, or at least, as failing to solve our problems as we desire.

In this angry, bitter state with our focus on ourselves and away from God it is very easy to refuse to do as God asks.

These are just a few of the reasons, make that excuses, why I don't or at least at times haven't served God as He has requested. Nowhere in the Bible are we told that we must serve God. The choice is ours. Just as Joshua said in Chapter 24, verse 15, "Choose you this day whom you will serve".

If you are allowing some of these excuses I have mentioned or you use an excuse that is different, now is the time to ask God to forgive you of your disobedience and ask Him to lead you into the service He wants you to perform.

The choice is yours ~ we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Choose you this day whom you will serve.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Why Don't I?

I have divided this topic into two parts directed at two different types of sinners. If I just hurt your feeling by saying "sinner". Then maybe this message is for you.

The first part is "Why Don't I accept Jesus as Savior"?

Maybe you have made a profession of faith in Christ Jesus and have been baptized. If you have accepted Jesus and are a child of God the Father, then please pray that these words be used to touch someone's heart.

The reasons why people don't become saved are many. One that I have experienced a few times has to do with the worldly goodness of the person and how he or she compares their life with others around them. Allow me to use this illustration to explain what I mean.

A few years ago, when I witnessed to my uncle, his response was something about how he was as good as some church member, deacon, or preacher. His argument presented me with a problem because in a human sense I have to agree with some of the examples he mentioned. Humanly speaking he was better than some of these people.

My response was to read to him Romans 3:23 which says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God". If this is the excuse you are using, hear again this verse, " For all (the word all includes you, me, and everyone else)have sinned, and come short of the glory of God".

Some may know I work with cattle and when I was preparing this, I thought of all those frisky calves that are so hard to enclose in a small fenced area They are just hard to move from place to place. This verse means that God surrounded all of us frisky people and included us in this all because we all have made the choice to sin. Like a calf at times does, none of us have escaped the condemnation of our sin.

Yes, you are a sinner, I am a sinner, and every person you meet is a sinner. Now that we realize we are all in the same field - the field of sin; what are the results or responsibilities for being a sinner?

In Romans 6:29 we learn what we have earned for our sins, "For the wages of sin is death". Yes, we are all sinners and because of this sin, there must be a death. For each one of us, someone must die. We are now coming to the place where everyone must make a decision.

You may choose to die for your own sins and spend eternity in Hell - apart from God, or you can choose Jesus who is the perfect substitute. In 1 John 2;2 we read, "And He (Jesus), is the appeasement for our sin". This says that Jesus' death on the cross of Calvary met God's demand for a death for sin and if you will accept His sacrificial death, it is a just replacement for your own deserved death.

WE have established that all of us are sinners and that sins demand death as payment; and we know that there is a substitute available. He willingly became our substitute. But before we can avail ourselves of this substitute, we must first repent of those sins. We are told in Luke 13:3, "Except you repent ye shall all likewise perish".

It is not enough to recognize that you are a sinner, but you must repent of those sins (or have sorrow for those sins). This is not simply sorrow about being caught, or having to suffer the punishment, but sorrow and true regret for having committed those sins.

You realize you are a sinner, there must be a death for those sins to satisfy a just God; Jesus' death is the acceptable substitute; you feel true sorrow for your sins and are willing to repent & turn away from sin; what's the next step? What must you do to be saved from the just wages for your sin?

Acts 16:31 gives us an example of a jailer asking that same question. Here is what was said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved". Here is what you must believe in order to be saved: I am a sinner, Christ died for my sins, He was buried, and He arose on the third day.

He willingly received your rightful wages for you sins. Now you need to ask Him to receive you, forgive you, and save you. If you realize that you need the salvation only offered by Jesus Christ, all you need to do is call out to Him. For example, you could say: "Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sins and help me turn away from them. Save me Jesus and wash me clean. I accept you as my Savior and my Lord from this day forward. Amen."

If you have prayed that simple prayer, please email me (at: angus9418@hotmail.com) so I can celebrate your new birth in Jesus with you. Jesus is waiting right now to forgive you and wants to have a loving relationship with you. But the choice is yours.

Monday, February 9, 2009

I Am Rich

"You go looking for blessings, you will find them." I was told that today by a cashier in a store I visited on my way home. She is always so cheerful, which is a great blessing to me each time I visit that store. Our conversation and particularly her comment about blessings brought back to my mind the thought I have carried and even shared; I am one of the riches people in the world.

Why would I consider myself among the richest of this world, you may be thinking. I will assure you it is not based on my bank account, stock portfolio, real estate assets or any other form of material wealth. My richness is based on those things that 'money cannot buy'.

First, I am loved. I have always been loved and I will always be loved. There are many people of this world that love me. At times throughout my life I have felt alone and unloved by anyone on this big floating ball called earth; but in fact, there have always been a few, and at times many, who truly love me.

As important as the love of my fellow man may be, it pales to the love of God. God loved me to such a degree that he sent His son to become a sacrifice for me. I am not being arrogant or egotistical with this statement; but for whatever reason He may have, He loved me enough to allow His Son to die for me. Yes, that same Son died for you too. That makes you a potential rich person as well.

This is an unconditional love; never requiring that I be a 'good boy' before He will express His love. I have to do nothing to receive this love. He just loves me.

Second, I am rich because I have a guaranteed job with benefits. When the economic conditions take a down-turn, people begin to worry about the security of their jobs and the possible loss of that very valuable 'benefits package'. I don't have that worry anymore. When God's Son, Jesus, died for me, became a sacrifice for me, and I accepted that sacrifice as payment for the debt I owed, I received an unending job. I was 'saved unto good works'. Don't even go there. I am not speaking of salvation by works, I am speaking of works as the result of salvation.

Just as God called by name Bezaleel in Exodus 31:2, He called me to a special work. If you continue to read further verses after this call to Bezaleel, you will find it was for a particular task and that God had equipped him with all the skills necessary to do the work. I have within me, all the skills necessary to do whatever God calls me to do. You also have those skills to do all that God has in your job description.

I have a guaranteed job if I will only accept it. I have heard the old saying that 'so & so won't work in a pie factory'. I have the choice to respond to God's job offer by saying 'no', but if I do, I am very guilty of disobedience and some of the benefits associated with accepting the job won't be mine.

I have the promise from my employer, if I accept His offer, that He will provide all my needs. I no longer have to be concerned about all the necessities of life. Sure I have to work and do the task assigned by my employer to receive this promise, but I would be very foolish not to accept.

A third, and for now a final, reason I am rich is that I am offered a two-fold guarantee if I accept this work. Guarantee one says that everything I will ever need to perform this job will be freely and timely provided by the employer. I never have to be concerned about budget limitations or break downs in delivery scheduled. Everything I need, and when I need it, is the promise that is made to me.

The second part of this guarantee is that I can't fail. If I accept the position offered to me by God, and do the work assigned to me by God, I can't fail. Yes, if judged by man, I may be a complete flop, but man isn't my employer, so man has no right to judge my performance. The Bible tells us that if we follow Jesus and do His will, we will be hated by man.

Rich beyond belief is what I am. I hate to admit that I don't always follow the work assignments of God, so I must forfeit some of the benefits or maybe I should just say blessings associated with obedience. Sometimes I even fail to show up for work. A day without pay isn't good when God is your employer.

As I think over all of this, I realize it only makes sense even in my feeble brain to be as committed employee and do all that the employer asks of me. If I adhere to His plan, I have it made.

Would you like to be rich? It is very simple. Accept the gift of love the Father gave. Makes sense to me to accept the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross and let His death pay your sin debt. If you decide to accept, then you have eternal job security with fantastic benefits. The choice is yours.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

The Cure

For many years, possibly for more years than I realize, we have been inundated with self-help books. The people of this culture have been and are searching for that magic potion or mystical word that will transform each man, woman, and child into a well rounded, successful, positive, happy, rich individual.

Today, we have what may be termed an epidemic of low self-esteem, low self-confidence, and low self-worth. We have been told that this is caused by the deterioration of the family and the home, violence on TV, the spread of drugs, the rise of crime and even the fall of organized religion. These are not the cause; but merely the signs and symptoms of the disease which has infected our society. The diagnosis is the eternally fatal disease of sin. The carrier of this disease is satan. The method of infection used by satan is the lie.

Throughout history, the human race has been subject to a number of life threatening diseases. Man has been faced with leprosy, the plague, and today AIDS. These diseases have brought the death of great numbers of people, but, as devastating as these diseases were and are, only a relatively small percentage of the population were ever infected.

Just how widespread is this disease called sin? What percentage of the population has been infected? Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." This verse tells us that everyone has been infected with sin, there are no exceptions given. The word used to denote who is infected is the word "all". As bad as the previously mentioned diseases may have been, none of them infected everyone. Now, since you know you are infected with sin, what is your prognosis? Romans 6:23 says in the first part of that verse, "For the wages of sin is death".

Each of us can look around and see the signs and symptoms of this disease. We can see the horrible effects this disease has on our world, our society, and even our homes. Today, if you were diagnosed with AIDS, you would probably consider it as a notification of your impending death; you would probably consider it a death sentence. The Bible has just told you that you are infected with sin and that the result of that infection is certain death. You have been placed under a death sentence.

Low self-esteem, a feeling of low self-worth, and a feeling of total hopelessness is mankind's response to the disease of sin. Many may have never been told what the Bible has to say about their condition; but just as you and I know we are sick before the doctor confirms it, each person knows there is something dreadfully wrong with them. They know that they are in need of something to make them right.

This would be a very sad world; and I too, would feel hopeless if this were the end of the story. What I have said thus far is absolutely true. Yes, satan introduced sin into this world through a lie and that sin has infected every man, woman, and child that has ever lived, and yes, the results of sin is death, unless there is a cure provided.

Hallelujah! There is a cure for this disease! Satan and the disease he spreads were forever overcome by Jesus Christ. When Jesus shed His blood on that cross on Calvary's Mountain, He met God's requirements for a cure for those infected with sin. Jesus provided the cure with the shedding of His blood, but just like the cure for any other disease, you must accept that cure. If I had a syringe filled with a drug that would cure AIDS and you had been told today that you have AIDS, would you not want me to give you the cure? The problem is ~ you must first admit that you have AIDS and then you must ask me for the cure. The cure that Jesus offers for the disease of sin is much the same; you must first admit that you are a sinner (infected with sin), repent from the practice of sin (turn away from sin), and ask Jesus to save you from the results of sin (ask Jesus to administer the cure to your life).

If you are demonstrating any of the signs or symptoms of low self-esteem, low self-worth, hopelessness, or you're attempting to discover a cure through drugs, alcohol, crime, or something else; you may need the cure only Jesus provides. If you have never gone to Jesus and asked Him for the cure then you need to do that now. The cure is certain and complete and free for the asking. But if you never go to Jesus, the result is just as sure as the cure. The failure to receive the cure is sure eternal death.

If you would like to be cured; you need to simply bow your head and with sincerity say something like the following to Jesus:

"Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner, I admit that the practice of sin in my life was my choice. Jesus, I want to now repent of that sin and to turn away from it forever. Jesus, I ask you to administer the cure you freely provide to my life. Jesus, I ask you to save me. Thank you Jesus for this wonderful gift of eternal life. Amen."

If you have just admitted that you are infected with sin and repented of the sin, you are now cured from sin, and eternal death is no longer your destiny. However, just as we retain the scars and deformities when we are cured from other diseases, we will retain signs left from the disease of sin. These can often be diminished. It takes time, effort, and loving support.

Just because you are now cured from the disease that caused you to have a low self-esteem, or to feel unloved or hopeless, don't expect these to suddenly disappear. When you go to the doctor to receive a cure (injection) for an illness; even though the cure has been administered, there is still a period of time that your body requires to heal. The symptom of low self-esteem advanced with time; the effects of the cure may take some time to become complete.

Some of you, when I say that you need a cure from the disease of sin may have said to yourself, "Oh! I remember a time in the past when I received the cure from Jesus. I don't need the cure again; but I do need something."

You're possibly experiencing a relapse. The cure did not remove the disease from the world and you may be guilty of returning to the things you practiced before you were cured. All of us may, and most will, experience times in their lives when the lies of satan will lead us away from following the treatment of the Great Physician Jesus. When this happens, we are told to again admit our sin and and He will remove that sin from us as well. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I was saved (received the cure) when I was 10; but there have been many times in my life that I have relapsed into the practice of sin. Recently, things were not going to suit me. I became rebellious and began to doubt that God loved me. A few days ago, it suddenly became real to me that God truly loves me - Don Huffaker. Yes, I have heard people quote John 3:16; and I am sure I have in the past personalized the verse by saying, "For God so loved Don Huffaker, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life".

How many are like me? What do you think brought the realization of God's love to me? Depression! Yes, I was very depressed. I felt unloved, (by both God and man), without worth in this world, and a total failure in all that I endeavored to do. I was having a real pity party. I was struggling to do God's will and to follow His leadership for my life. I was reading self-help books, the Bible, and praying, but nothing seemed to help the way I felt about me.

I don't remember exactly when or why it happened, but I realized that I was deeply loved and worth God's cure. I became aware of the fact that I, Don Huffaker, was and is worth the sacrifice of God's Son. God sent His Son to earth to die a cruel, agonizing death on a cross for me - Don Huffaker. Yes, I know that Jesus died for everyone, but what is so important to me is that He died for me. And He would have still died on that cross even if no one else had ever existed.

Am I worth anything? Am I important? Most definitely, unless you can say that God's sacrifice of His son is worthless. Is Don Huffaker now to take an ego trip, stick his nose up in the air, or brag about how great he is because he has finally discovered that he is worth the life of God's Son Jesus? I hardly think so. Don Huffaker, apart from the sacrificial death and shed blood of Jesus is an absolutely worthless, condemned, filthy sinner bound for his just punishment of eternity separated from God. Eternity in hell.
My value, my worth is totally attributable to God's love for me; demonstrated through the death of Jesus on Calvary's cross.

God loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die on a cross because He knew that one day you would be born into a world of sin. He knew that one day, you too would need a cure. The illness is very real; the cure is so very simple. Self help books won't give you the cure that you need. God's inspired Word - The Bible - is His letter of love to you. In this love letter, He offers a cure that will start you one the path to health and healing. All you have to do is ask for the cure.