Looking Unto Jesus

Are you feeling discouraged? Look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, who endured the cross in order to save you. (Hebrews 12:1-4). The Lord says, "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:22

Don't lose hope, He hasn't finished working on you yet! For "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" Philippians 1:6. We are to seek those things which are above where Christ is (Colossians 3:1-2). Think on all of God's promises that you can claim to solve the problems that you find so discouraging. Remember, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" and God is more than willing to give "good things to those who ask Him!" (James 1:17, Matthew 7:11). God's sending us His Son shows us how willing He is to help us (Romans 8:32). "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" Psalm 84:11

Remember when ancient Israel began to murmur and doubt in God's care for them and then they were bitten by snakes? (Numbers 21:4-5). Then Moses was commanded to raise a bronze serpent on a pole so that whoever looked at it would live. (Numbers 21:6-9). Likewise, Jesus was lifted up on a cross so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:14-15).  Thank God through Jesus we find victory over sin's "sting of death" (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). To the discouraged soul who wonders if Jesus will cleanse them from the fatal leprosy of sin, He says “I am willing; be cleansed.” Mark 1:41. Do you want to be made well? “Rise!" and "walk!” (John 5:6-8).  Forget the past and "press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

Saving grace through faith is a gift, it's not something you can earn and then boast about (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are HIS workmanship "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10. Remember, "it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13.

Now, don't be surprised by fiery trials, they are as a refiner's fire (1 Peter 4:12-13, Malachi 3:2-3). God refines our characters through the discipline of trials because He loves us (Hebrews 12:5-6). "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. When God forgives us, it doesn't mean he didn't love us before, He always loves us (Jeremiah 31:3).

Remember that God doesn't want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). His wrath isn't against man, it's against the "ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" (Romans 1:18). God's love was demonstrated by Christ dying for us so that through Him we could be saved from wrath (Romans 5:8-10). Jesus tasted death for us so that we don't have to (Hebrews 2:9). Through Him we are justified and we find peace with God (Romans 5:1).

We can "glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5. We will love because He first loved us and if we love Him we will keep His commandments (1 John 4:19, John 14:15). Keeping His commandments won't be a burden because we abide in His love (1 John 5:3, John 15:9-10). Those who have been perfected in love are not motivated by fear (1 John 4:18).

If God's love isn't in our hearts, then whatever we do will be meaningless rules and traditions (Mark 7:5-6). Self-imposed rules have no value against the indulgence against the flesh (Colossians 2:20-23). What we need is God's Spirit to put to death the deeds of the body so we can live for Him (Romans 8:13, Romans 6:11). We still have a carnal nature to contend with, it is only through the power of Christ's Spirit in us that we can find deliverance (Romans 7:18-25, It is only by faith that we can say that we no longer live, but Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20). It is only by faith we can say we are "not in the flesh but in the Spirit" Romans 8:9. We need to live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7). Romans 8:1-11). Those who live in according to how the flesh sees or feels are not living by faith and cannot please God (Romans 8:8, Hebrews 11:6).

It's those who become frustrated with legalism often go to the other extreme of using grace as an excuse to keep sinning (Romans 6:1-2). They haven't learned to appreciate the freedom found in Jesus who alone can save us from the slavery of sin (John 8:34, John 8:36). The correct response to this freedom is to serve God, presenting our bodies as instruments of righteousness. (1 Peter 2:15-16, Romans 6:13). If we really understood that we were bought with the price of Christ's blood, we would remember we are not our own, we are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Jesus is the truth that sets us free from sin (John 14:6, John 8:32). We must be careful not to suppress the truth, changing the glory of the eternal God into an image made like mortal man (Romans 1:22-25). We must be careful not to fall for another gospel that really isn't a gospel or "good news" at all (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Galatians 1:6-8). The everlasting gospel has everything to do with fearing God, giving Him glory, worshiping Him who created all things (Revelation 14:6-7). Christ is worthy of our worship, for He created and redeemed us (Revelation 4:11, Revelation 5:9).

The true gospel teaches that Jesus frees us from both the penalty and power of sin. By God's grace we can hate sin and have Satan crushed under our feet (Genesis 3:14-15, Romans 16:20). Victory over sin is possible with God's help and He doesn't get frustrated with helping us. It's His exceeding joy to keep us from falling (Jude 24).

Now, though we are to hate sin, we are to love sinners because Jesus came to save sinners from their sin. (1 Timothy 1:15, Matthew 1:21). True hate for sin comes from the understanding of the harm it does to the sinner and how it defaces the image of God. (Genesis 1:27). We need to beware of fault-finding and gossip (Proverbs 11:12-13).  We would be doing much harm, to both ourselves and other sinners like ourselves, by dwelling on own faults and the faults of others, and here's why: we become what we look at. Now if we have the Spirit of the Lord, we will dwell on His glory and be transformed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). We will see a great contrast between His character and our own, and thus we our convicted of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-11).

"Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help." Psalm 146:3. It is a curse to depend on the on what man does or doesn't do (Jeremiah 17:5-6). Jesus said that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). Blessing can only be found in placing our trust in in the Lord (Jeremiah 17:7-8). God knows our hearts are deceptive and yet He is so merciful toward us, great is His faithfulness! (Jeremiah 17:9-10, Lamentations 3:22-23). Let God have your heart and He will give you a new one (Ezekiel 36:26). He will give you His Spirit, then you will be able to say "I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart." Ezekiel 36:27, Psalm 40:8.