Living Imperfectly on God's Perfect Path

     I do not know how many times I have thought to myself that I just don't measure up to God's perfect standards. I seem to make mistakes all the time, showing me just how imperfect that I am. It is so frustrating to read in the Bible the way I should be and then falling short on doing so. I thank God for his mercy and the patience he has for me. Where would I be without it? Not in a very good place.
     My imperfection does keep me humble. In no way can I stand tall and prideful before God. I would just look foolish, so I bow before him and ask him for forgiveness of my sins. I know in my heart he has love for me and his love will forgive my shortcomings. Matthew 18:21,22 "Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" ²²Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times." God is merciful toward us but I would like to become a person who needs a little less forgiving. Philippians 3:12 "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own."
    It is a daily battle to up hold your Christian values in this devil controlled world. 1 John 5:19 "We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." But if we do need help we can pray to God and he will hear us. 1 John 5:14 "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." And Jesus will protect us from the devil if he sees us trying our best to live by his word. 1 John 5:18 "We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him." God loves us as his precious children and just like a good Father, he will protect us and help us anyway that he can.
     Yes, I am living imperfectly on God's perfect path and even though I think to myself that I am not measuring up, the important part is that I am not giving up. I do not look at it like it is an impossible task that I was given. God knows we are imperfect human beings and that is why he sent his son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, we could not have forgiveness of our sins without him. We could not have a chance at eternal life in God's kingdom without the love and help of our Savior. We are imperfect humans beings and we cannot find our way on our own.
     God has not given up on us and neither should we give up on ourselves. In God's eyes we are worthy enough to be saved even though we are imperfect. Don't let the devil to deceive you, you are loved by God and always will be. It is your own choice whether or not to accept it. God is like the sun overhead and the devil is like the dark clouds that try to block out any sunlight from getting through. God's light is always shining down upon us and the devil is trying to make us to believe there is no hope or light at all. Even worst he is trying to make us believe his darkness is the light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light."
     My love for God and his word has kept me going upon the path to his kingdom. His truth and righteousness is what I believe in and in how I want to live my life. I have seen how bad people live their lives and their path will never be mine. I have by choice made God's way my way and never have I regretted it. I feel I have been blessed by his spirit and that someday I will be with him in his kingdom even though I am living imperfectly on God's perfect path.

Joy to the World

     Beyond the sadness, the despair and the darkness within our world there is still joy. Luke 2:10,11 "And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the lord." Through the dense darkness of our world God show us the light through his son Jesus Christ. Jesus read these words in a synagogue. Luke 4:18,19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

     Yes, there is joy to our world through our Savior Jesus Christ. He brought to us the good news of the kingdom of God. Luke 4:43 "but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose." Why was he preaching the good news? John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me." Jesus said in John 6:35 "Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." John 6:40 "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." Do you see where the long lasting joy in our world comes from? It is not from what man has done but what Jesus Christ has done and will do in our future.

     Jesus Christ has made us joyful by releasing us from death and giving us a resurrection of eternal life. 1 Corinthians 15:21,22 "For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." He has made us joyful by bring us closer to God. Ephesians 2:17-19 "And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God," We were once strangers but now through Jesus Christ, we our members of the household of God. I find that to be pretty joyful.

     I could go on and tell you all the beautiful and joyful things that Jesus Christ has done for us but it would take a very long time to do so. I just wanted to say that true lasting joy that we have in this world comes from Jesus Christ and all the good that we do comes from following his example.
     Let the heavens sing of his glory and let us praise him for all that he has done for us, for he is our light through the darkness and our joy when we are sad. He is bring in a new tomorrow and a joy to our world that will last forever. Even in our darkest hour we can still say, "Joy to the world for the Lord has come."                                                                                                                             (ESV)