"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."
- 1 Timothy 1:15
As a Protestant, I understand the importance of reading the Bible and praying. As a pastor once said in a sermon, reading the Bible is your spiritual food and praying is like breathing. You need both to have a relationship with God in the first place, let alone one that is vibrant and alive.
I want to be an encouragement to other Christians and a living testimony to non-Christians. Not because I'm perfect. Not because I want to be noticed. Not because I have the ability. But because when the Pharisees asked Jesus to keep His disciples from shouting His praise, Jesus replied, "The very stones will cry out" (Luke 19:40) if His disciples were silent.
Last night, I was sitting in my Dynamics of Biblical Change counseling class when the professor said something that I will not soon forget: "Sin is serious before God. The temptation is to see your wrong in your eyes (guilt) and in other people's eyes (shame). See your wrongs in God's eyes."
I have been really sick with food poisoning today - and I'm sure my psychosomatic tendencies aren't helping, either. As I was crying out to God for mercy and for His healing hands on my physical and emotional brokenness, I recalled last night's lecture. I confessed to God that I am nothing without Him. I know I fall short physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually according to human standards. I am utterly hopeless according to God's standards!
I have been trying so hard to make it appear as though I have everything under control - in hopes that by convincing other people, I will eventually be able to convince myself. However, I have been tremendously humbled.
Thankfully, my professor didn't stop there: "Be in a world where someone's [God's] opinion matters and can help you."
More importantly, the Bible says, "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22, 23).
Furthermore, Jesus is the Word of God (John 1). So, in order to develop your relationship with God, it is critical to read the Bible. Do not be discouraged from reading the Bible if you feel you are not ready to approach God because He will meet you where you are. If you doubt that the God of gods and King of kings will welcome a sinner like you and me, just skim through the Bible. You will see that God used flawed people like you and me to do His sovereign work.
If an answer of generalities doesn't work for you, how about Jesus' response to the Pharisees, when they asked why He ate with tax collectors and "sinners": "Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17).
As I write this entry, I find so much comfort in this verse because I am physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick. I hope you find comfort in His words, as well.
