Thursday June 16, 2022

If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows all things. 1 John 3. 20

They (all who believe) are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3.24

Lord take me as I am

Born in Finland, Ari Vatanen, car rally driver, is one of the most respected and successful "figures" in his sport, with 65 successes in his 28-year motor sports career. In 1985, he was the victim of a very serious accident during a rally in Argentina, and remained "on the sidelines" for 18 months. Let's listen to it :

“Each of us has successes and setbacks but it is in difficult times that we learn the most important lessons. later, everything becomes clear and you realize that God controls everything. Even if you can't explain everything, you realize that everything is for the best.

The accident in 1985 and the 18 months off were very hard. As I began to recover, I fell into a deep depression. But I think I came out of it less critical, more tolerant and with a more holistic perspective.

In the Christian life, the main thing is neither our emotions nor formalism, but what happened 2000 years ago in Golgotha : we must believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus. What always amazes me is that God accepts us as we are. How could Jesus die for us ? We are so "rotten", but despite everything, he is there, he is waiting for us. He alone is holy. Even though we all fall, we can turn to God and say : "Lord, forgive me, take me as I am" and He does it, whatever we may have done before."

Source (The Good Seed)

Wednesday June 15, 2022

(Jesus said) : My sheep hear my voice ; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. John 10. 27, 28

He exhorted them all to remain with a firm heart attached to the Lord. Acts 11.23

The Lord is reaching out to you (2)

The Lord Jesus is your Savior, he will never let go of your hand. He will help you from the first step of your Christian life. You came to him praying, continue and keep this permanent contact with him. Call on him with these simple words : "Lord Jesus".

He, the Good Shepherd, will answer you. You will recognize his voice by listening to him, by reading the Bible. It will affirm your faith and make it grow (Romans 10:17). Through it, you will find inner courage and peace, you will be happy to peacefully follow the Good Shepherd.

To his sheep he gives eternal life (John 10:28). So you are safe : "No one will snatch them from my hand", he tells us. This implies that the world in which we live is hostile to those who, as witnesses of Christ, love good.

Your relationship with him is personal and unique, however Jesus speaks to his sheep, his flock on earth. The Lord wants to gather his sheep. If you follow this Shepherd, he will allow you to meet other believers where you live.

The company of other believers is very useful for reading the Bible, praying and singing together. These activities directed by the Lord Jesus and his Spirit guard and strengthen the flock in faith (Colossians 3:16).

You wonder what allows you to bear the name of Christian ? It is to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 2:41). But there is a responsibility attached to this : being a disciple of Christ must have visible consequences in your life.

(end)

Source (The Good Seed)

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

(Peter said to the beggar) : I have neither silver nor gold ; but what I have, I give it to you : in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk. And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up. Acts 3. 6, 7

The Lord is reaching out to you (1)

You who hesitate on the path of faith, I would like to help you come to the Lord. I would first like to encourage you to take a first step: pray to the Lord Jesus. Maybe you don't know where you are, but you still understood that he is the Savior and that he is alive. So you can talk to him, make him a very simple prayer to receive him. He takes everything you tell him seriously, he even hears your sighs. Isolate yourself in a quiet place and speak to him with your words, from the bottom of your heart.

So you can tell the Lord that your life has been marked by evil, that you are in failure, doubt, hesitation, maybe you are afraid of death... Simply tell him that you need him. The Bible speaks of many people coming to Jesus with just a few words. That's what you can do today !

Recognize that so far you have lived as you please. Admit to him your lies, your bad thoughts, your jealousy, your bad behavior... And above all, ask him : "Forgive me and purify me, please". He will do this because he is the Savior that God gave us: he died on the cross so that our faults may all be forgiven. Invite him to take control of your life, to transform you completely. You can also ask him to free you from all the unhealthy bonds that hold you back.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). To "invoke" is to call for help, it is to pray for help. Do it now, don't delay ! Come to Jesus through prayer. He will grab you by his mighty hand.

Source (The Good Seed)

Monday, June 13, 2022

Happy the man whom God takes back ! Do not refuse the correction of the Almighty. Job 5 17

The Lord corrects the one he loves. Hebrews 12.6

Me, I take back and I correct all those I love. Revelation 3. 19

How God Calls Us

Here is someone sleeping soundly in a house where a fire has broken out. To wake him up, we ring the bell, we call him... Will we have to force the door to get him out of bed ?

Sometimes God has to forcefully intervene in someone's life, to rescue him from great danger and bring him back to a path where God wants him to act for his own good.

The pursuit of profit, ambition, the pursuit of pleasure act on us like sleeping pills. To wake us up, God can allow worries and difficulties. Instead of listening to this voice that warns us, we often try to distract ourselves more and more to stun us and drive these warnings out of our thoughts.

As watchful parents would do to a child who stubbornly braves danger, God uses "correction." He loves us, and when the counsel of his Word is not heeded, he disciplines us. God leads us to understand his will, to enter into a happy, closer relationship with him. His goal is the blessing and happiness of his children. When God speaks to us in this way, do we listen to him even if he asks us to turn around completely ?

Fellow believers, this form of education is never God's goal, it is the way to reach our hearts ; it lets us know the mercy and compassion of our Father. Remember, however, that any ordeal remains a means of challenging us, but it is not always intended to correct something in our lives and our behavior.

Source (The Good Seed)

Sunday June 12, 2022

I praise you for being such a wonderful creature. Your works are admirable. Psalm 139. 14

Everything was created by him (Jesus Christ) and for him. He is before all things, and all things subsist through him. Colossians 1. 16, 17

The signature of God

DNA contains the genetic code that controls the various elements of the living cell. It has been calculated that the probability of seeing a DNA gene form by chance is evaluated at one chance in 10 followed by 155 zeros. Isn't DNA gene formation marked with God's signature ?

We advocate rationalism, but isn't it shocking to accept that life on earth is the result of chance, and maintained, if we refuse the notion of a designer, of a supernatural intelligence ? What prevents a lucid reflection on the mud principles of the theory of Evolution which seem so improbable ? If we do not accept this theory, we must recognize an all-powerful creator God, and consequently the idea that man, created in his image, is linked to his Creator. Many fear to believe it, fearing to lose their independence.

However, God loves his creature and wants to communicate with it. “God proves his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “One mediator between God and men, Jesus Christ, the man, who gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2. 5, 6).

By faith, come to Jesus, enter into a living relationship with him. Recognize that it is based solely on God's love for you : it is God's marvelous signature.

Source (The Good Seed)