Oh Believer, You Are

You are continually on God’s mind, and He is always thinking of you for your good. You are continually before His eye—the eye of the Lord never sleeps, but is perpetually watching over your welfare. You are continually in His hand, so that no one will be able to pluck you from it. You are continually on His heart, worn over it as a memorial, like the high priest carried the names of the twelve tribes over his heart forever. You always think of me, oh God! The heart of your love continually yearns for me. You are always working things out for my good. You have set me as a seal on your arm (Song of Solomon 8:6). Your love is as strong as death; many waters cannot quench it, neither can the floods drown it (Song of Solomon 8:7). Surprising grace! You see me in Christ—and though I am abhorrent in myself, you see me as wearing Christ’s garments, washed in his blood. And so I stand accepted in your presence, continually in your favor—continually with You. - Spurgeon

Oh Believer, you are the Beloved of God.
Consider what Spurgeon says for this morning!  In it is nothing less than overwhelming encouragement! 

We are so much more than Satan ever wants us to believe we are.  In Christ we are. In Christ.  Not in ourselves but in Him.

The love of God is so overwhelming! 
It wraps us in the perfect blanket. 
It fills our soul in ways nothing ever will.

Yey, dear reader, why do we look to the world for acceptance? Why do we look to others here to be accepted?

It is only in Christ are we to look for acceptance.  Not in what any man or woman will say of us.

I used to really put myself on a gauge of acceptance with others around me.  I would get either excited or depressed over people coming into my life or leaving it thinking it was something that I did. I would spend an incredible amount of time trying to self examine to look for reasons.

What I was missing was that I only need be concerned about what Jesus thinks of me. Where I am with God is everything.
When He tells me to write, I just do. When He says that He has me in His hands, He does.  When He says He is at work in my life, He is. 

If He is...why would I or should I, look to others to be my joy or my peace? In Christ is where my joy and peace are. 

The Love of God - MercyMe

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry 
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

I have a joy and peace that are there because of God.  Many think that there's times when I make hasty decisions concerning Spiritual matters.  No, the choices come from prayer, and if things work out, they do. If not, it's not on me, but on God to give new direction.  He puts us places for a reason.  To interact with people at that moment in time for a reason.

As Spurgeon pointed out, God is always working things for our good.  Paul had many friends in many cities.  He was at the places God took him for those seasons. 

But to really see that we are continually on God's mind.  Wow. It honestly gives me pause to consider my thoughts, actions and motives.  As despicable as we are in our sin, the Father sees Jesus in His pure white garments, not us as we are.  He sees us washed in His blood.  He sees those who are beloved. 

If you are not a believer, if you have never come to Christ, what's holding you back?
Until you do, the opposite of what Spurgeon says applies to you. Your sinful garments remain.  God the Father sees you, in all your sin, not Christ. 

What is holding you back?  It's a free gift this Salvation in Jesus Christ.  He paid the price, He did it all to make it possible for you to become a child of God.  To have your sins washed away.  To be made pure before God.  It's much more than escaping Hell. It's a love relationship that is practically indescribable that awaits you. A life of new experiences with Jesus that would never happen apart from God.

Is what you are holding onto that important that you would go to Hell to keep it?   People on their death bed have cried out in anguish and pain. Tears falling, refusing to take God's gift even when they know Hell is now very real to them. They cry out at the heat, the fire, the pain but refuse the lifeline. 

Every life paved with good intentions that is apart from God leads only to Hell.

Grace and mercy are awaiting you if only you would let go and receive His free gift of Salvation.

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