Believe
Matthew 21:31-32 “I tell you the truth, the tax
collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32
For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not
believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you
saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
WE struggle so much to do what’s right; yet, our lives
seem to never change. Could Jesus possibly forgive our sins? Pause and repeat these words to your heart:
“Jesus loves me. Jesus makes me brand-new forever when I repent of my sins!”
In this
scripture, Jesus is chastising the Pharisees who claim they are right with God.
But the thing is, they don’t listen to the Son of God. They refuse to recognize
their sin, and they stay exactly where Jesus met them—in their sin.
In
contrast, the prostitutes and tax-collectors around Jesus were repenting of
their sins. They mourned their sin. They desired release from their sins. They
believed Jesus would free them of their sins. Jesus moved them from where he
found them into the forgiveness of their sins.
Jesus forgave
and healed them from their hard, dark lives. He gave them new life in him
because they really believed the truth recorded in John 3:16-17 “For God so
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into
the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Yes, note how Jesus came to save his own who
say, “Forgive me, Lord.”
Believe
it. After all, Jesus hasn’t condemned you. Why should you condemn you?
It’s True! “Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark
1:15)
Bob James
Working Everyday for the King of Kings
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