When I accepted the Lord
as my Savior years ago I was told that I could have a “personal” relationship
with Him. Over the past 41 years I have learned more and more about Him
as I study His Word and spend quality time with Him in worship and prayer.
The result: a close personal relationship with my Lord that I would not trade
for the entire world. This morning I read an article by Scott Harrup (the
Managing Editor of the Pentecostal Evangel) that talked about Jesus as our
dearest Friend but he also noted that we can take this relationship for granted.
Mr. Harrup said it in a nutshell when he wrote, “It’s almost as if, having
lived for some months or years within the reality of a saving faith, we expect
the attendant blessings as our due.” As I read the article I was humbled
to realize that I was taking God for granted: knowing I was saved and
believing all He promised I had an attitude of entitlement (I thought I was supposed
to receive all He has to give me). After all, are we not taught to believe
in His promises? What I realized is that I should believe His promises
but recognize that He does not have to give them but rather chooses to give and
stand by them. Why, not because of anything I have done or am but because
He loves me.
“Behold, for peace I had
great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of
corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.” Isaiah 38:17
KJV
“He didn’t have to die for
me.” Our Youth Director shared this statement given by one of the
children in our youth group with me recently. The Youth Director went on
to share that the full reality that Jesus was not forced to give up His life
but that He chose to had dawned upon this child. My salvation is another
thing I tend to take for granted. When I realized this morning that I was
taking both my salvation and my personal relationship with the Lord for granted
I asked His forgiveness. As I contemplated how He is “Faithful to forgive
us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” my thoughts cried out
with the song writer when he wrote: “Amazing love, how can it
be, that Thou my Lord shouldst die for me?!”
I have found that it is
through His forgiveness that I can recognize His true love for me. How
deeply does His forgiveness run? He forgave Judas, the one who betrayed
Him up to His torturers with a kiss of friendship. Now THAT is
forgiveness; now THAT is love!
“I, even I, am he that
blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy
sins.” Isaiah 43:25 KJV
“For I will be merciful to
their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no
more.” Heb. 8:12 KJV
“And their sins and
iniquities will I remember no more.” Heb. 10:17 KJV
