I will share about Christian books I have read or listened to.
I will be sharing about my life before and after Christ. I will include stories about my pet and other pets I have encountered.
Confess and Believe
In the Old Testament, the Jewish people had a very different relationship with God than we have today. Because Adam and Eve went against Him, a divide was formed between humans and God. Years later, God gave Moses a long list of rules—the law—for His followers to live by. A relationship with God was based on how well believers followed the law. In order to become right with God, they would have to regularly go through a series of rituals and follow His list of rules perfectly.
Because this relationship was complicated and challenging—many people had a hard time following the Law. But regardless of the mistakes they made, God still loved His people—and He wanted to make things right with them. So God sent His Son, Jesus, to live a life on earth as a man, and take the punishment humans deserved.
Because of Jesus, we no longer have to follow the law perfectly in order to become right with God. Instead, Paul tells us in Romans:
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Romans 10:10 NIV
Because of Jesus, becoming right with God is much simpler than it was in the Old Testament. If we believe Jesus is God and declare our faith in Him, we are saved. It can sometimes be hard to believe this, but because of Jesus, God invites us into a relationship with Him just as we are. We don’t have to be perfect. We don't have to do anything to deserve it—we just have to be willing to accept it.
But although we no longer have to follow the law, this doesn’t mean we should do whatever we like. Through a relationship with Jesus, we’re encouraged to become more like Him each day. It’s not always easy, and we won’t always be perfect—but like a loving parent teaching His child to walk, Jesus is forgiving—He will help us after we fall, and encourage us to keep going.
If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus—know that He loves you and will meet you where you are. He doesn’t expect perfection. Instead, all He asks for is your belief in Him. Take a moment to tell Him now that you believe in Him, and ask Him to guide your life. The offer is open, all you have to do is accept it.
Jesus Does The Impossible
Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:26 is often taken out of context. Many people have taken this verse to mean that they can do anything they want in life because God can do the impossible. Often this can lead to selfish prayers and a small view of God.
In order to understand what Jesus is saying, we should read the preceding verses. In Matthew 19:16-22, a young man comes to Jesus asking for eternal life. Jesus tells him that he must give up all of his earthly possessions—something the young man is not willing to do. Because he failed the test, the young man failed to inherit eternal life.
Jesus says in Matthew 19:23 that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter heaven. The point is that loving Jesus requires everything we are. Our ultimate love cannot be split between Jesus and something else.
The disciples then ask, “Who can be saved?” Jesus responds in Matthew 19:26 that it is impossible for man to save himself—but it is possible with God. God can do the ...
