Sunday, February 22, 2015

When you read these papers, remember that it is YOU I love, and not the CAR



It's YOU!

Mary Branson was driving the new family car and inadvertently made a wrong turn and sideswiped another automobile.  In tears, she began fumbling through the glove compartment in an effort to locate the appropriate insurance papers.  When she finally found the documents, she also discovered a small note attached in her husband’s handwriting.  It read simply:

Dear Mary,
When you read these papers, remember that it is YOU I love, and not the CAR.” *

Now THAT is a loving husband!

That loving husband reminds us of an attribute of the Heavenly Father: “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

It is vitally important for us to remember that God loves us because we make many “wrong turns” (we sin!) and make a mess of our lives.  “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

But as we open our “letter” from God (the Bible), we read:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 “9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” – 1 John 4:9-10

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” – Ephesians 1:7

God is saying, “When you make a wrong turn and wreck your life, remember it’s YOU that I love and not the SIN.”

In the messages that God has given us through His Word, we learn that God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.  He loves us so much that He wants to save us from sin, add us to His family, and give us the gift of eternal life!

God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

There’s not ONE of us that hasn’t made a wrong turn and suffered because of it.

But to each of us, God says, “Remember, it’s YOU that I love and not the SIN.”  And through the blood of Jesus, He’ll wash that sin away!

What a wonderful, loving Heavenly Father!

Won’t YOU accept His offer of forgiveness and life on His terms?

David A. Sargent

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