Have you ever met someone that left a lasting impression on your life? I have met many people in my lifetime but I’ve never encountered someone so full of love and compassion as my best Friend. He has never left my side. He’s been with me through the happiest and even the most trying times of my life and because of his amazing love, has helped me through them all! His name is Jesus.
It was over 30 years ago and although I could not see him in this natural realm he showed himself so real that it was almost as if I could.
As time went on I began reading about His life and character. I read in the scriptures how he interacted with people during his lifetime on this earth. Real life stories of how he treated others. One of my favorites is Jesus encounter with the woman who was caught in adultery and how unconditional his love was toward this young woman. He was on his way back from the Mount of Olives and a crowd gathered and he sat down to teach them, “As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of a crowd. “Teacher” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:1-11 NLT.
This is the Jesus I met one evening 30 years ago. His love and grace left such an imprint on my life that I have been spending each and every waking moment with him ever since, learning from him and doing my best to follow his example. Giving and showing the same love and mercy that was extended to me many years ago. Loving my enemies as he did when he said to God while hanging on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” after they beat him and hung him on the cross to die. Luke 23:34 KJ
If you have not met him yet, I encourage you to open up your heart and mind. In fact he is standing at the door of your heart right now, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20 NLT. When you make what I believe to be the most important decisions of your life, you will not only meet the Savior of the World, the Prince of Peace, you’ll meet the only Friend that will forever stay by your side. Your new relationship with Jesus will allow you to get to know him and experience his amazing love on a daily basis. You will also be able to have one on one conversations with him (this is a form of prayer, just talking to the Lord) and he promises that he will “hear” and “answer” you. He will then begin to show you His purpose for your life…all the good that He has planned for you. All you have to do is talk to him. Tell Jesus that you believe in him, that you believe that he is the Son of the living God, and that you believe that he died and that God raised him from the dead. Ask him to forgive you of all your mistakes and ask him to help you love others and forgive them as he forgives you. My personal prayer many years ago went something like this: “Jesus, I believe in you. I believe that you died for me and that God raised you from the dead. I believe that you love me and forgive me of all my mistakes. I believe you have a purpose for me, I want to follow you, I want everything you have planned for my life. I receive your love right now, be my Lord and Savior, thank you Jesus.” Now that you’ve made this decision find a church that teaches that Jesus is the Son of God and that teaches that believing in Jesus is the only way to heaven. A church that also teaches his commandment to “Love your neighbor” by helping others as He taught in the Gospel of John chapter 15, Mathew 25 along with James chapter 2, and 1John 3.
May the Lord Bless you, protect you and give you His Peace.
Pastor Nina Tidwell
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