There are days when I, a born-again Christ Follower for 15 years now, struggle to believe that Jesus STILL loves me, pursues me, forgives me, calls me his child after all these years. I mean, if I were him, I am not sure if I would love me the way he loves me….and yet, somehow, in some unfathomable way he never stops, never gives up, relentlessly loves and cares for me. I will never understand it, and will forever be humbled by it. The Savior of the world LOVES ME! His love for me was so great, that he chose to die for me, before I existed. Who does that? Jesus. The same way he saved me, is the same way he has saved every Christ Follower since that dark day on the hill of Golgotha—a simple invitation.
Some people think they are too far gone for Jesus to love them to be saved. Trust me, I get it. However, Jesus has a history of saving many lost souls, worse than you and myself. Have you ever murdered someone to cover up your adulterous affair? Have you ever relentlessly persecuted Christians to the point of death? Have you ever cheated people of their livelihoods by taxing them until they face poverty? It doesn’t matter what you have done, what you have been through, the choices you made or currently are making—Jesus loves you and desires to come into your life.
Pastor John preached about Zacchaeus on Resurrection Sunday, a man who was so hated, so loathed, that no one wanted to be associated with him. He cheated people of their hard-earned money, by taxing them to death. But the one person, who looked at him, saw him for who he really was, inside and out, and said “I must stay at your house today.” Jesus looked at him, never had spoken a word to him before, and he chose to go to his house. It was the shock heard around the world, that Jesus would choose to come to Zacchaeus’ house, a man so hated and despised. Jesus didn’t care, he saw a man who NEEDED him, and so he chose to come into his house. Zacchaeus was a changed man, he realized his need for a Savior, he accepted Jesus’ invitation, not just to come into his house, but to come into his life. Zacchaeus is one of millions of people who have been changed by Jesus, so what about you?
Jesus was beaten, mocked, spit upon, tortured, nailed to a cross for you, for me, for Zacchaeus, and all people past and present because he LOVES us. Then he died and rose again, to prove that what he said and what he did was true. It is the greatest gift anyone could ever receive, and he offers that to you, right now. Our Risen Savior, is waiting with open arms, for you to accept that simple invitation—come, and let today be the day of salvation!
Some people think they are too far gone for Jesus to love them to be saved. Trust me, I get it. However, Jesus has a history of saving many lost souls, worse than you and myself. Have you ever murdered someone to cover up your adulterous affair? Have you ever relentlessly persecuted Christians to the point of death? Have you ever cheated people of their livelihoods by taxing them until they face poverty? It doesn’t matter what you have done, what you have been through, the choices you made or currently are making—Jesus loves you and desires to come into your life.
Pastor John preached about Zacchaeus on Resurrection Sunday, a man who was so hated, so loathed, that no one wanted to be associated with him. He cheated people of their hard-earned money, by taxing them to death. But the one person, who looked at him, saw him for who he really was, inside and out, and said “I must stay at your house today.” Jesus looked at him, never had spoken a word to him before, and he chose to go to his house. It was the shock heard around the world, that Jesus would choose to come to Zacchaeus’ house, a man so hated and despised. Jesus didn’t care, he saw a man who NEEDED him, and so he chose to come into his house. Zacchaeus was a changed man, he realized his need for a Savior, he accepted Jesus’ invitation, not just to come into his house, but to come into his life. Zacchaeus is one of millions of people who have been changed by Jesus, so what about you?
Jesus was beaten, mocked, spit upon, tortured, nailed to a cross for you, for me, for Zacchaeus, and all people past and present because he LOVES us. Then he died and rose again, to prove that what he said and what he did was true. It is the greatest gift anyone could ever receive, and he offers that to you, right now. Our Risen Savior, is waiting with open arms, for you to accept that simple invitation—come, and let today be the day of salvation!