Jesus cares for us and redeems us!
“Jesus gave Himself to redeem us from everything evil.” – Titus 2:14
Jesus wants us to know and trust Him.
“I want you to know me, to trust me, and to understand that I alone am God. Only I can rescue and save. I saved you, so now you are my evidence.” – Isaiah 43:10-12
He wants us to enjoy trustworthy human relationships.
“All God’s laws are fulfilled in one command: ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Gal. 5:14
Jesus gives us talents, noble ambitions, and opportunities to elevate excellence and virtue in our influence circles.
“Each of you has been blessed with one or more of God’s wonderful gifts (charisma) to serve others. Use yours well.” – 1 Peter 4:10
Dark forces oppose Him and you.
It’s not easy to follow Jesus on our own.
In this world, powerful evils and spiritual antagonists try to hinder us from trusting God or building admirable things that exhibit His character.
They press against our potential with heavy burdens, tempting lures that lead to pain in the long term, and thorns (excessive hardships) that discourage us.
“Our struggle is not really against flesh and blood, but against unseen evil rulers and powers of a dark world and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” — Eph. 6:12
They want us discouraged toward indifference, twisted toward selfishness, or disheartened toward hopelessness or self-condemnation. This way, our noble ambitions won’t bear fruit.
“Everything is meaningless… What do people get for all their hard work?... The wind blows south and then turns north. Round and round it goes, blowing in circles. — Ecclesiastes 1:2-6
Our greatest enemy may even be WITHIN ourselves.
Something inside sometimes gets in our way of being the upright beneficial people we want to be.
It stirs up pride, selfishness, or fears to confuse our well-intended motives. We try but can’t seem to get a handle on it.
The Bible speaks to this struggle.
“I want to do what is right, but I can’t always do it. I want to do what is good, but I don’t.
I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway…another power within me is at war with my mind… Oh, what a miserable person I am!
Who will rescue me from this life that is dominated by impulses toward sin and death?” — Romans 7:19-24
Left to ourselves, we lose grasp of the meaningful life God planned for us.
But, Jesus did not leave us alone!
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” — John 14:18
We know we need help. Jesus gives us the help we need!
“Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” — Romans 7:25
This passage is one of many that describe the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus.
Jesus is working in us!
Jesus Christ can and is willing to help us become the POEMS our spirits know we were born to be.
“Because you belong to Him, His life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of evils that lead to death.” — Romans 8:2
Bowing to Jesus helps us stand!
Jesus is about loads lifted, purposes found, addictions broken, and healthy relationships made or restored.
“The Lord heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3
“Come to me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens.’” — Matthew 11:28.
Supportive community helps!
Jesus established Christian community (ekklesia) to help his followers enjoy good friendships, grow in His love, and support one another in noble ambitions.
“I will build my church, and the powers of hell will not prevail against it.’” – Matt. 16:18
“Love each other. Just as I have loved you. This will show the world that you are my followers.” – John 13:33-35
Let’s lift each other toward the potential for excellence and good that Jesus sees in us!
“Let us keep spurring one another toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are doing, but encouraging one another.” — Heb. 10:24-25
“Not that I have fully become what I can be, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” – Phil. 3:12