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The Gospel is for Everyone.

Like me, we sometimes wonder where in this world God is. Our churches are full almost every weekend, but we desire more of God during the regular week.  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV) What does it mean to become the righteousness of God? It means that through our faith God has called us just, or righteous. There is a common misconception that because we are in right standing with God that we have to somehow be perfect. The word "perfect" in the bible is not referring to sinless perfection but maturity. But even a baby Christian need not perfect themselves, Christ is the stronghold in our lives if we are following him. He takes our faith, no matter how weak it is and He perfects it. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ( Hebrews 12:2 KJV.)

We look to Jesus, in the same way we look to our parents when we were children, with faith. We sometimes feel that we have to strive to get God's attention, but our perseverance is not ours alone to carry. It is God's perseverance of us that really matters, and if we have sinned greatly, we need not somehow try to make it up to him with things like perfect obedience, or self mortification. God is pleased with us, if we are prideful we need to repent, but if our hearts are right before the Lord we need not fear His judgement. God looks on us as we are his children. He knows we struggle, that's why he died for us. His heart is actually closer to the ones who know they need Him the most, because if all our needs are getting met, we will feel smug and satisfied and feel that we don't need God.

God is also close to the sinner, not just the saint. His love encompasses even those who are living in rebellion to him. We must come to God knowing that we need Him, for that is the only way to come. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ( Romans 5:6-8) Our righteousness is given to us by the Lord Himself, when we look upon the cross on which Jesus died, we are set free from the penalty of sin.

If we are finding ourselves in a rut, where we feel that God is not listening, we can be sure He is because of His omniscience. God knows our hearts, he know how hard we can be on ourselves at times, and I am sure that the suffering in the present world grieves the Lord, but there is great joy that awaits anyone who has faith and is going through the mill. The problem comes when we give up. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ( Hebrews 12:15 NIV) We can't do this on our own, and I believe that even as I write this God is lifting some readers up from the trap that Satan has cast you in. There is no need to fear God. This is Mike.

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