Tag : sin

Do you take a shower everyday?

Posted by admin at 8:34 am

No really? Maybe for the middle schoolers at your church can’t answer this question honestly. But unless you have some very unusual set up circumstances you take a shower, right? I was, of course, taking a shower this morning and I began talking with God and confessing my sins from the previous day and I realized that I had not confessed my sins for two day. Wow! Immediately I became shameful. How can my life honor God if I am walking around with an unclean heart…It can’t. I never miss a physical shower but I easily miss my spiritual shower. How about you? When is the last time you have confessed your sins to God and started the day with a clean heart? I feel great this morning.

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No Perfect People Allowed

Posted by admin at 9:29 pm

Why is there a common misconception that you have to clean up your life before you can go to church?  Most likely because the church has lost the essential essence of what it means to be the church.  Read what Jesus said when the Pharisees tested Jesus on God’s commandments:

Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ‘This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40

The commands are simple, “Love God and Love People.”  This means love people where they are at no matter what the condition of the person’s life.  I recently had time to work with hoseashouse.com who ministers to women who have been abused mentally, physically and emotionally. Hosea’s House does most of their ministry in the west end of Louisville.  This area is a very diverse area and the only discriminator is the economy.  This area is not a common area for churches to go because of the common violence and the bad reputation the area has, which is too bad because I found tons of people who welcomed the token white guy with open arms.  The main reason I was in West Louisville was to take picture for hoseashouse.com and here is what I found:

Remember that there are no perfect people allowed in the church.  LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE!!

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Even on the Cross

Posted by Jeff Jackson at 10:06 pm

There is no doubt, even if you don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that Jesus lived an incredible  live.  He modeled a perfect life so that we may know how to honor God with our lives.  He always met the physical needs of the people and always followed up with a spiritual concession.  He was the ultimate role model, even on the cross.  Jesus, while dying on the cross, which is  the most horrific death one could image, decided to look past all the pain and suffering he was experiencing and he chose to focus on other people.  We read the most selfless act humanity has ever experienced in John 19:26-27:

²⁶When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” ²⁷and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Here we read how Jesus, even in extreme amounts of suffering and pain, looked down from the cross and committed his mom to his disciple and we see Jesus committing his disciple to his mom.  Why is this important?  Even in His last breaths Jesus chose to love others over himself.  Wow….what a great picture!  I am convinced that even in death Jesus knew our name and saw our face just before he took his last breath.  Jesus loves you!  I know this might sound clique but He really does and he proved that by being a perfect example on the cross.  Jesus wants to have a relationship with you.  He desires to have a relationship with you.  However, all though he could, he does not enforce this relationship.   Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  If Jesus is the way and he is then how do we enter into a relationship with him?

A. Admit you are a sinner.
“There is no one righteous, not even one … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:10,23. (See Romans 5:8; 6:23.)

Ask God’s forgiveness.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13

B. Believe in Jesus
(put your trust in Him) as your only hope of salvation.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (See John 14:6.)

Become a child of God by receiving Christ.
“To all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 (See Revelation 3:20.)

C. Confess that Jesus is your Lord.
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (See verse 10.)

If you decided to step into a relationship with Jesus by living these three steps then I want to encourage you to tell someone about it.  Tell your pastor, if you don’t have one find a church and tell that pastor.  Call 1-800-need him (this is a great place to call if you would like to speak with someone about your decision).  Email me Jeff Jackson at jeff@jeffjacksonlive.com . Whatever you do, tell someone.  Why?  It is important to tell someone so you can be encouraged in your decision and they can help point you in the right direction as you start your jouney with Christ.

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