“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
Diana says she’s not afraid of her past. In fact, her dramatic change speaks volumes about God’s love.
Students who knew the “old Diana” noticed the change. Campus parties she attended used to include drinking and promiscuity. Then she met Jesus and turned her life over to Him.
Now she truly cares for her friends. And she’s also not afraid to share her faith in class… even at a secular university! Diana wrote a paper for a literature class. It compared society’s standards for a woman with Bible standards. She concluded that society inhibits women from experiencing the freedom found in Christ. In the paper, Diana also shared about God’s love. She got a perfect grade!
Friend, if others notice you’ve changed, tell them why.
God’s love made all the difference!
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8
I have a few, don’t you? Those Christmas gifts in the back of the closet you will probably re-gift to someone else. They are either not your personal style, or you already have one, or you just think it is useless or ugly. However, someone thought enough of you to gift it. So the fact you didn’t actually pay for it shouldn’t bother you if you re-wrap it and give it away.
The gift of Jesus is like that, and better. He is meant to be re-gifted. We are supposed to give Him away, not hide Him. Someone at some time gave us the Light of Christ. We chose to take it and accept Him as our Savior. Now it is our turn to share that Good News. No, it is not a gift we bought. Christ did that with His own blood on the cross when He died for our sins. But that makes the gift even more precious, not less.
The receiver may take the gift and toss it to the ground, or wait until you are gone to trash it. Or they may tuck it away and not think about it for a while. Perhaps in the quiet hours of the night they sit cross-legged on their bed and slowly undo the wrapping paper to reveal His presence. It is even possible they will rip it open right there in front of you and accept it whole-heartedly. But the results aren’t up to you. Your role is to re-gift Jesus to as many folks as He calls you to do so. He takes care of the rest.
Dearest Lord, we just celebrated that the Magi brought You gifts. Help us to be bold enough to re-gift You to others so they may share in the Joy of Your grace and Mercy. Amen.