The Cross of Jesus will lay bare all dead work and dead faith.   Many times after we accept Jesus as our Saviour we are zealous to do all things for Him.  There seems to be three roads a new Christian may take in order to “maintain”, if you will, their salvation.

One road we may see is the gospel of grace.  The Lord’s grace is freely given to all yet grossly undeserved by all.  “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” Romans 3:24.  When we live under the atoning Blood of Jesus, we are freely reconciled with God.  Being reconciled with God only comes by faith in Jesus’ finished work on The Cross.  Being reconciled with God is the only way for eternal life.  This liberty is granted to us because of Jesus and The Cross; this is the grace we receive.  This freedom is not to be used for carnal satisfaction but for spiritual sanctification.  To use this freedom for carnal satisfaction is to trample on the Blood of Jesus.  “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:29.  Understanding God’s grace begins by understanding The Gospel of Jesus first.  If our faith is in His grace and not Him (Jesus) we will never see nor understand His grace when the storms come.

Another road some may take after accepting Jesus as their Saviour is works.  We are zealous for the Lord and want to show Him and everyone else around.  We boast in our faith through our works.  ” ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your^[ works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:18.  Faith without works is dead faith.  On the other hand, works without faith is dead.  We demonstrate our faith through our works.  In other words, because of the grace given to us freely by Jesus’ sacrifice we show our gratitude and love for the Lord by our works.  Our “works” show our love for our neighbor as Jesus’ showed His love for us.  Our works do not show our worthiness to others or to the Lord but they show the love of Jesus through us.  They shine His light, not our own.

Then there is THE road.  This road has a name and it is called Calvary Road.  This road is the reason we we have grace and the reason we work.  Calvary Road will lead us to The Cross of Jesus.  The very place we begin our walk with the Lord is the same place we must return daily.  The plan of God for our salvation is through Jesus.  Every book in the Word of God points to Jesus.  Once we begin our walk, be careful not to be deceived.  The devil doesn’t care what we have faith in as long as it’s not in The Cross of Jesus.  Satan realizes once our faith remains in The Gospel of Jesus, the finished work of Jesus’, we are set free from bondage.  Thank you Lord for setting me free!!  – Donna Warren

“Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.” Luke 12:51

The Gospel of Jesus brings division of good and evil.  Christ is not the cause of division but rather the rebellion against the Gospel brings division.  Rebellion against the Gospel includes pride, idolatry, legalism, self righteousness and self will to name a few.  Accepting Jesus as our Saviour brings us salvation, reconciliation, sanctification, peace that surpasses all understanding, love, joy, mercy and grace…just to name a few.

I have always heard “you will lose all of your friends” when you get saved and that bothered me.  I didn’t/don’t want to lose my old friends.  The Bible says The Gospel of Jesus Christ divides good and evil.  Is that why we lose our friends?  Is it because The Gospel divided the good and evil?  I never thought of myself nor my old friends as “evil” though.  Honestly, I still don’t.  NONE of us are good, there is only one that is “good” and that is God.  The fact of the matter is, if we don’t drink from the Lord’s cup, we’re drinking from the devil’s cup by default.

While speaking with a friend the other day they made this comment : “They’ve heard The Gospel but have rejected It.”  My friend was speaking of people who know Jesus but have not accepted Jesus.   The more I thought about it, the larger that statement became.  “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. ” Matthew 10:14.

So what do we “do” with our old friends who by default reject Jesus?  We certainly don’t “reject” them.  That is the epitome of self righteousness.  It may be that they are scared to invite you to events because they don’t want you to be offended.   Unfortunately religion and legalism have trampled on the atoning Blood of Jesus  by placing Christians in the judgement seat.

As for me, I do shake the dust off of my feet.  By that I mean I don’t get offended at their rejection.  I can’t sugar coat the rejection; it is what it is.  The Bible also says “it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment…” Matthew 10:15.  Instead of judging or being offended, I pray.  I pray for God’s continued mercy.  I pray for unveiled eyes.  I pray for the Lord to send His laborers to cross their paths.  I pray that when the Holy Spirit convicts them, they respond.  I pray they respond not only for their own salvation but for their children’s, their parent’s and other loved ones.  I pray they become the ones the Lord uses to bring their circle of friends and family to Him.

Yes, The Gospel of Jesus Christ divides.  Yes, we wipe the dust off of our feet.  We may lose some friends but not because we reject them for their sins but because they reject us for our Jesus. – Donna Warren

“Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go,’…” Exodus 5:1

Even if we don’t reject The Cross of Jesus, many times we don’t fully embrace The Cross either.  It’s very easy to say we accept the sacrifice Jesus made on The Cross but do we fully accept the finished work of Jesus on The Cross.  Unless we fully accept Jesus’ sacrifice and His finished work on The Cross, bondages will not be broken.  Jesus’ work on The Cross demonstrated the greatest act of love.  He humbled Himself, died for our sins, redeemed us and rendered the devil powerless against us.  Through Jesus’ work on The Cross we are granted full power of attorney in the name of Jesus within the bounds of the promises.  “…Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. ” John 16:23.  We, as believers, have full legal, redemptive and blood bought promise to use the name of Jesus in salvation, baptism, worship, good deeds, spiritual warfare, healing and prayer.  The unlimited use of the name of Jesus, within the bounds of the promises of God, is a deposit made for us.  Any use of this deposit is honored with a steady and unwavering Hand, the Hand of the Lord.  Hallelujah!!

This is the finished work of The Cross of Jesus .  This too must be accepted for victory over bondage.  The finished works of The Cross of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit are God’s prescribed plan of victory for Christians.

The Lord said “Let my people go”.  This does not mean the devil is going to give up.  In fact, many times the devil will try harder.  Satan knows once we realize the power granted to us in the name of Jesus, he is defeated.  The enemies goal is to distract us from using our power of attorney.  This distraction causes us to either lose faith in His promises if they don’t come quick enough according to “our plans” or it causes us to feel like we have to work for our salvation (bondage which renders The Cross useless).

The prayer to Allah at the National Cathedral is a sign of the moral decay in our country and our world.  The leaders who allowed this compromise of the full Gospel of Jesus Christ are just another sign that our country’s problem is not social but spiritual.  When we do not accept the full measure of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His blood bought sacrifice for our sins giving us power and authority over the devil, the devil will not let the Lord’s people go.  When our faith is in the finished work at The Cross we are insured the help of the Holy Spirit.  Our own efforts and strength are insufficient to defeat bondage.  “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”  Colossians 2:14-15.

Declare the full Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Cross.  Get out of the valley of decision walk in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Allow the Lord to use you to bring forth His glory.   BE the salt and the light that provokes others to seek Christ.  This Gospel is not just for others but for each and every one.  ” ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’  Amen.” Matthew 28:19-20.     – Donna Warren

A couple of weeks ago I kept thinking about an old friend of mine everyday.  She is not someone I speak to daily but everyday I would think about her and everyday I had the good intentions of sending her just a quick message to let her know God was putting her on my heart to pray for her.  Finally, by Friday night I sent that message – just a “quick hello” message.

That Sunday my friend wasn’t at church.  I asked about her and her husband said she wasn’t feeling well.  The following week passed by, uneventful as usual.  The weekend came and my husband went to go visit a friend Saturday morning.  When he returned home he had a book his friend let him borrow for me to read.  It was aptly titled “Call It Incredible, The Ron & Susanne Cox Story” by Mark Nichols Sims.  I was thrilled and dove right in to reading.  While my friends watched both the Alabama and Auburn football games, I was sitting reading this book.  Pastor Ron was my grandmother’s pastor at Kingwood Church in Alabaster, AL.  I remember when I was a young child going to church with her and seeing this larger than life man going back and forth behind the pulpit preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I remember when my Grandmother would clean the church every week and I would go with her, I couldn’t wait to play under the pews.

My friend who had been on my mind a couple of weeks before is Pastor Ron’s oldest daughter, Stacey.  We grew up knowing each other.  We ran in the same circles on occasion and every now and then she would spend the night at my house.  Then as many teenage friendships go, life took us separate ways.  Since I have been at Kingwood Church, my old friend Stacey and I have began to rekindle an old friendship.  We don’t talk personally much but old friendships are kind of like bicycles, they just come natural sometimes.

Yesterday morning at church, the worship service was awesome.  You could feel God’s presence.  At one point I looked up and I saw my husband and Pastor Ron standing beside each other, not on purpose as I’m sure they did not even realize.  There were many people standing around but I noticed these two men.  We are studying gratefulness at church this month.  The songs and the sermons are all pointing toward being grateful to the Lord.  I was looking at these two men praising the Lord, having just read Pastor Ron’s testimony and knowing my husband’s testimony, and my heart was overwhelmed.  My heart was overwhelmed at the Lord letting me see His mercy, not only through my life, but through the life of others as well.  As the tears flowed, I was overwhelmed at God’s mercy and love for all of us; I was grateful.

Then there was last night’s church service.  To put this service into words is really impossible.  The feeling of being a part of something so much bigger than you and on the other hand the intimacy of being part of a church family who truly cares about the lives of others, both in their community and in their church,  is something that can only be experienced.

My friend Stacey is now married to the pastor at Kingwood Church.  After Pastor Ron retired Pastor Jay picked up the reigns and is carrying on the legacy.  Pastor Jay is a humble, spirit filled man who has a servants heart.  He has a heart for God and shepherd’s the Lord’s flock (us) through wisdom, strength and knowledge that can only come from the Lord.   Kingwood is so blessed to have him as our leader.

Last night toward the end of the service, Pastor Jay and Stacey stood up and made an announcement.  They made an announcement that tied the last two weeks together.  The small things that may have seemed somewhat “uneventful” to some became yet another overwhelming climax in my walk with the Lord.  Even last week at our prayer meeting, Pastor Ron, his wife Susanne and another couple that I know they are good friends with came on my heart.  It was just a feeling of bitter sweetness that I didn’t really understand but began praying for them.  Please keep in mind, I don’t really know them personally but when God puts someone on your heart its for a reason – to pray for them.

So the announcement came.  A bitter sweet announcement.  Bittersweet because while it was not “good news”, the love in the sanctuary was Heaven pouring out mercy and grace upon all who were there.  The announcement that came was that Stacey has been diagnosed with the beginning stages of Huntington’s disease.  The same terrible disease that afflicted her Mother and now afflicts her sister, Tiffanni.

You see, God showed me His mercy first.  The Lord caused my husband to bring that book home for me to read.  He caused me to read the entire book except for the last couple of chapters before last nights service.  This book was a testimony of God’s grace throughout both Pastor Ron’s and Susanne Cox’s life, including the terrible disease that afflicted his first wife, Glenda.   He (the Lord) caused me to notice His mercy and grace on Pastor Ron and my husband during yesterday morning’s service.

What the enemy has meant for evil, God has turned into an outpouring of love amongst a family of brothers and sisters in Christ.  What the enemy has meant for evil, has caused the cords of prayer and faith to be knit together even tighter.

Today I am grateful to the Lord for unveiling my eyes to His mercy and grace.  I am thankful for the church family He has picked for me and for allowing me to be a witness of His glory in their lives.  Thank you Pastor Jay and Stacey West for allowing me to see His strength through your testimony.  Thank you both for allowing me to witness His glory in the coming days.  – Donna Warren

“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

The Truth of the Word of God never changes.  The revelations in the Word of God are what transforms us into a new creature in Christ.  When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, the Holy Spirit begins His work in us.  Anything dead in us is pruned and we begin to bear the fruit of the Spirit of God.  The fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, is our witness to others.  Our fruit is what touches the heart of others before our mouth’s are ever engaged.  The Truth never changes inside of us.

Satan’s job is to distract us.  To the lost, these distractions go unrecognized.  The god of this world, satan, is the god of the lost.  Without them realizing they are both eating and serving off of the same plate, satan’s plate.  Their eyes are veiled to the Truth.  “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.  The lost are distracted and blind until the pride and shame are put away and they choose to accept Jesus as their only plan of Salvation.  Without compromise, God’s plan is the only plan for eternal life. 

Distraction is not only for the lost.  Distraction of the believer is one of the most common forms of deceit.  Satan and his minions have been around all of our life.  They knew us when we were sinners and they know us now.  Satan will use our weaknesses to distract us.  Taking our focus away from Jesus, even for a moment, we begin to sink.  As Peter walked on water toward Jesus, he looked at the storms surrounding him and began to sink.  Whether there were storms or not, Peter could not have walked on water without focusing on Jesus.  The storms were satan’s distraction.  As soon as our miracle happens, satan will try to distract us.  The devil wants us to focus on our problem instead of our solution – Jesus Christ.

Religious works can also be a form of distraction.  The devil knows our works will not bring us salvation.  The fact of the matter is, satan doesn’t care who we have faith in as long as it’s not in Jesus.  We can go to church every time the doors are open, boast of our faith and quote the Bible from beginning to end and still have our focus on our works instead of Jesus.  The devil knows the Bible from beginning to end also.  ” ‘Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ” Matthew 7:21-23.  The Will of God and the Word of God point us to the Cross of Jesus. 

Satan knows once the Truth is revealed to us we will be set free from his bondage.  The enemy knows the Truth of the Word of God.  He knows who holds the keys to his kingdom.  When the storms start raging, when the bait is dangled in front of you – look back to the Cross of Jesus.  Look back and see how far the Lord has already brought you.  We don’t run to the Cross just for His blessings, we run to the Cross because of what He has already done for us.  He blesses us because He loves us, not because we love Him.  We go back to the Cross of  Jesus and remember we belong to Him.  – Donna Warren

The word gospel actually means “good news”.  Many people teach many different “gospels”.  There is the gospel of grace, gospel of faith, gospel of prosperity and still many more.  Some of these gospels motivate you and some will condemn you.  The gospel of faith teaches that if your prayers are not answered it is because your faith wasn’t strong enough; it must be your fault your prayers weren’t answered.  The gospel of grace teaches us of the liberty we have because of the works of Jesus on the Cross but fails to teach us of the sacrifices He made; this “gospel” causes many to tread on the Blood of Jesus.  Lastly, there is the prosperity gospel which teaches us our works will cause the Lord to bless us; promises of prosperity (many times interpreted to be financially) without acknowledgement of why such is promised – Jesus Christ and the Cross.

While all of these “gospels” have some truth to them they are all diluted gospels.  As Christians our great commission is to teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations.  We do not add to or subtract from this Gospel.  Our carnal attempts to motivate others to seek Christ through such diluted gospels is in direct contrast to the Word of God.  It in fact sets us in direct enmity with God.  The entire Word of God points to the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross – the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Lord, being our representative, came to this earth as a sacrificial lamb to pay for our sin so we would not be condemned to eternal death.  He suffered both physically and mentally in the flesh, just as we do.  He prayed and cried out to God for this cup to pass but knowing this was the only way we too could be reconciled to God, (He was already reconciled to God in His perfection but we were and are not perfect.) He submitted to God’s will, defeated the kingdom of darkness, was resurrected and is now sitting at the Right Hand of God.  All because of His love for us so we could have eternal life with Him.   The Lord doesn’t want us to work for it nor does He want us to take this liberty for granted.  He wants us to receive His grace and be good stewards of His blessings.  He wants us to be ministers of His Word and serve others to shine His light.

Failing to submit to God’s plan of salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ by diluting it to mere motivation will not bring the conviction necessary by the Holy Spirit to change hearts.  ” ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,’ says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’ then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ ” Hebrews 10:16-17.  When we believe correctly we will start doing correctly because it is written on our hearts and we will no longer try to obtain salvation through our own works.  The difference in The Law and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is only revealed to us through faith in Jesus and the Cross. 

Yes, we are given authority over the enemy.  Yes, we expect to see the lepers cleansed, the deaf who can hear and the blind who can see (Luke 7:22).  But we must never forget why we have such authority.  We must always go back to the Cross of Jesus and be grateful for His Work.  We must always preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  – Donna Warren

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’  Then I said ‘Here am I! Send me.’ ”  Isaiah 6:8

Who can understand the heart of a soldier?  The freedoms they have afforded us, we often take for granted every day.  The sacrifices of their families not realized by many.

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

“One Nation under God” is a  recognition of our country’s faith in God.  Our country was dedicated to God on it’s inception.  The United States of America has a rich heritage of faith in God for our protection.  Our Nations might has always been in it’s spirit, it’s soldier’s hearts.

Many of us feel our country has turned away from God.  The Word of God was the very cornerstone of this country.  A solider’s heart I will never completely understand but I am thankful to God for them and their families.  These are perilous times we live in today.  As many of us go about our daily lives,  our first line of defense is in our soldier’s hearts.

Thank you everyone who has served in our Armed Forces of this “One Nation Under God”.  Whether you recognize the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as your God or not, He is using you also to protect and defend a Nation that was founded on His Word.  For those who do recognize the Word of God on which this Nation was founded, we as citizens are blessed and honored to have you standing in the gap before the Lord on behalf of our Nation.

Today we pray and honor all who serve and have served.  Today, we as Christians, stand in the gap for you and pray for your protection and continued strength in Jesus name; we pray for the heart of a soldier. Amen.  – Donna Warren

” ‘For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies ,’ says the Lord God.  ‘Therefore turn and live!’ ” Ezekiel 18:32

Physical death is not the penalty for sin for we are all appointed a time to die. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27.  It is eternal death that is the penalty for sin.  Some who die physically will be saved and others will be lost.  Every soul belongs to God and He does not wish for a single one to go to hell.   The Lord gives us a choice.

All of my life I heard “Jesus loves you” but it wasn’t until I slowed down to feel His love that I realized the depth of His love.  Sometimes He has to force us to slow down so we will realize.  Furthermore, the way He forces us to slow down we may not always like and at the time we may not realize it is God who is slowing us down.  Just like many people, I was busy.  I was busy trying to make a living, busy with life….just busy, busy.  What was me making a living became my living making me.  Then God slowed me down.  I realized my living that defined me was actually quick sand beginning to devour me.

So once I slowed down, albeit forcefully, I began grasping for something to hold on to; something that would help pull me out of the quick sand that life had become.  This vacuum that was sucking the life out of me called “making a living” was really making me a death sentence.  Don’t get me wrong, I realize we all have to work to pay our bills but its the motive that is the vacuum of quick sand.  The motive to have it all but by self will and not God’s will.

A friend once told me religion was the last result of the desperate.  Religion can give us structure when we are running in circles, but then again, so can the military.  It wasn’t until I slowed down that I began to “see” God’s love.  I would feel the love of Jesus through people.  Not only did they “tell” me God loves me but they “showed” me.  They showed me they cared by praying for me when I didn’t even know them.  They saw a lost soul and they knew who that soul belonged to.  Through their love for the Lord, they wanted me to turn to Him.  They wanted me to dedicate the life the Lord had given me to Him.  They covered me and stood in the gap for me while I was teetering on the edge of eternal life or eternal death.

Their are many people today who are teetering on the edge of eternal life or death.  When it comes to ourselves, we tend to think “we can handle” eternal death and worry more about our loved ones not having to face that reality.  We try to soften the reality of death for our loved ones by planning our funerals, paying for our caskets, so on and so forth.  Truth be known, there is only one way to soften the reality of physical death and that is by choosing eternal life.  There is only one way to choose eternal life and that is through Jesus Christ.

The devil did not win the battle for this soul.  He did not keep me too busy to feel the love of God.  My soul belongs to God and with Him I will live eternally.  The enemy tried his best to keep me too busy to invest in my future, he almost had me convinced I could do it on my own.  But praise God, the Lord is my Shepherd!  The Lord lifted His Hand of mercy and grace just enough for me to see it was Him all along who was blessing me with this wonderful life.  He lifted His Hand to let me see the deceit of the enemy.  My soul belongs to God and I choose to live for Him.  Your soul belongs to God.  Who will you choose?  Choose life.  Truly soften your physical death for your loved ones.  Be the one God uses to bring your circle of friends and family to Him.  Slow down and not only listen but feel the love of God.  Start at the Cross of Jesus.   – Donna Warren

“Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:4

Child like faith is not knowing anything different other that knowing.  When you see a child running to you, smiling from ear to ear and jumps in your arms, they know you are going to catch them.  They can’t even imagine you not catching them.  Sometimes you may turn and run a little ways to get them to chase you…but they know you are going to turn around and catch them at any moment.  Then sometimes you run toward them and catch them sooner than they expected.  No matter the circumstances they know you are going to catch them.

Jesus said in Matthew 13:13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”  A parable is a story that teaches a lesson.  Jesus wants us to know Him in our hearts not by what we see or hear.  When we read the parables of Jesus without Jesus in our hearts our spiritual eyes are closed and our spiritual ears are hard of hearing.  This is why we start with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and accepting Him in our hearts as our Saviour.  It is impossible to receive the spiritual knowledge of Jesus without Jesus; anything else is carnal knowledge.

Child like faith only comes with spiritual knowledge.  Spiritual knowledge only comes through the Word of God with Jesus in our heart .  The Holy Spirit is our teacher.  He guides us to the Truth of God’s heart.  When God begins to unveil His heart to us, child like faith is the side effect.  The knowing that He will be there to catch us.  The knowing that He may make us chase Him a little ways in order to stretch us to a new and even greater measure of faith but He will always turn around and catch us before we give out.  Even if we stumble while we’re running, He will come pick us up to try again.

Don’t be afraid of stumbling.  We’re not perfect, only Jesus is perfect.  If and when we do stumble, look up to the unseen Hand of God with child like faith.  Don’t limit the Lord with the carnal limits of your imagination.  Believe in Him for the big things.  Allow the Word of God to define you with spiritual wisdom and don’t try to define His Word with carnal knowledge.  When “life happens” remember the God in Whom we as Christians have dedicated our life to serve; remember your child like faith. – Donna Warren

“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? ” Romans 6:16

Obedience – another word that quite honestly kept me from going to church for a long time.  Obedience meant yet “another” authority over me.  While I’m confessing, I must admit I was always a little rebellious over any authority.  I was a “good person” so didn’t really see any need for authority.  Whether I was right or wrong, I was right – this is not something I’m proud about but it’s the truth.

Obedience requires submission which leads to humility.  This sounds absolutely dreadful to the proud, rebellious sort.  Being submissive requires trusting in who or what you are going to submit.  None of us want to submit to something that points to our failures.  Therein lies my point – submitting to something that points to our failures.  The enemy had me convinced that condemnation was part of being a Christian.  The devil doesn’t tell you the part about Jesus hates the sin not the sinner.  Just like when a loved one has a terminal illness, we hate the illness but we love the person.   If we had the cure for that illness, wouldn’t we want that person to come to us for the cure?  But that person’s friend is telling them don’t go there, you will have to get rid of that illness before you see them.  Doesn’t make sense at all does it?

Jesus IS the cure to our sin nature which is the terminal illness we are all born with.  It isn’t until we come to Him that we realize how terminal we were, not only that but we are spreading the disease to those we love until we are healed.  Once we are healed, the illness may try to come back in a different form.  What do you do then?  Go back to the Healer or submit to the illness?  Will you go back to the Cross of Jesus to be healed?

The Lord will meet you at the Cross as many times as you need Him.  He is long suffering and patient and wants to see you healed.  Condemnation is not part of the healing but part of the disease.  Obedience of submitting ourselves to Jesus is a blessing because of His grace.  How many of us submit daily to the lies of the devil because we worry about what others may think?  Others who may be spreading the same disease.  Maybe it’s you the Healer, the Lord Jesus Christ, wants to heal so you can show the others how they too can be healed of their sin nature.  We don’t walk into the doctor’s office healed, we don’t walk into the doctor’s office telling the doctor how to cure us.  We walk into the doctor’s office wanting to be healed.  We are gladly submitting to the doctors orders to be healed.

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ ” John 8:31-32.

Jesus paid the price for our salvation.  The Lord paid the price for our healing.  We don’t go to Him healed, we come to Him broken.  Broken from the constant condemnation of satan.  Broken because our sin nature has caused us to be obedient  to the god of the world and not the God of Heaven.  Our cure is at the Cross of Jesus.  We have the prescription for eternal life and it starts here:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name.
Amen.

Meet Jesus at the Cross.

-Donna Warren