A friend of mine recently got robbed. He owns a business that sells used items on ebay. He was on vacation when he gets a text from his assistant. Needless to say enjoying the vacation was hard to enjoy! When he got home and assessed what was stolen it was over $10,000. I met with him and he was pretty sure it was one of his employees. He was so angry and felt deeply violated. This was a guy that he had helped out. He gave him a job when no one else would.
One day, he sets up to take this guy to lunch. The night before, he went to the Lord. He told the Lord he wanted to set him on fire and drag him behind his truck. God said other wise. On top of robbing him, this employee owed him over $20,000. God said don’t prosecute, forgive the debt, and bless him.
So the lunch finally comes. My friend eats lunch with his employee like nothings wrong and then asks him a question… “tell me about the break in.” The employee breaks. He confesses, admits he should go to jail, admits to abusing pain killers and alcohol. My friend had a letter written up forgiving his debt. He gives it to the employee. Now the employee is sobbing in the restaurant. My friend says he is not going to prosecute. Then he starts giving him gift cards for gas and groceries.
About an hour after this lunch, I get a call from my friend. He is asking how to get his employee in Celebrate Recovery. He tells me the story over the phone. Now I am crying as I see this is what did for me.
Romans 6:22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
We deserved death and owed a debt we could pay. Then a good Father sends His Son. I have a son. I would not give my son for my enemy. I, through sin, made myself an enemy of God. God gave the punishment I deserved to His Son. He forgave my debt. He set me free. He blessed me with new life, a Church to help me, and a purpose inside me. He has called me a son.
If you are also following Jesus and received his salvation, thank Him now! Worship Him!
If you are not following Jesus and have not received his new life you can now! If you know you are a sinner and want Jesus to forgive you. If you want who you are now to die and have a new life in Jesus. If you would trust in the finished work of Jesus on the cross for your freedom. Then pray this prayer:
Jesus, forgive me of my sin. I trust what you did on the cross for my freedom. Give me new life. i choose to follow you all of my days. Amen!
If you just prayed that prayer, I am so proud of you! You are BRAND NEW. God loves you! I would love it if you would comment to let me know your prayed that prayer.
Recklessly, obsessively following Jesus
Brandon Sereg
