A thought by Rick Warren (2008-11-04)
from his book, The Purpose of Christmas (Kindle Location 532). Howard Books. Kindle Edition.
(Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
So what do you mean to save you? I’m glad you asked.
Rick says, “He wants to save you from
sin and self, save you for his purpose, and save you by his grace, through
faith. But you’ve got to relax, quit trying to save yourself, let go, and trust
your Savior to do it for you.”
Earlier he said, “As a young man, I was
a lifeguard for three summers. People panic when they sense they are drowning
and typically flail their arms around, grasping for anything. Every lifeguard
knows that if he tries to rescue someone who’s still full of adrenaline and
fearfully trying to save himself, the victim will likely pull the lifeguard
underwater with him. An experienced lifeguard knows he may have to stay back a
foot, tread water, and wait until the drowning person gives up. Then it becomes
quite easy to make the rescue. When the victim finally gives up, he relaxes,
and the lifeguard can take over. At that point the lifeguard simply puts his
arm over the victim and swims back to shore. All the drowning person has to do
is trust the lifeguard. But a person can’t be saved until he gives up trying to
save himself.”
The truth is we all know that we need
to be saved. We are doing everything in
our own power to save ourselves but it isn’t working is it?
Rick says, “Consider this: if it were
possible for you to save yourself and you didn’t really need a savior, God
would not have wasted the enormous energy, effort, and pain to send one. If
there were any other way, don’t you think Jesus would have chosen it instead of
suffering on a cross?”
He goes on to say, “I have no idea what
worries or anxieties or fears you’re carrying right now as you are reading
this. But Jesus knows, he cares, and he can help you— if you will trust him
completely. And he will help. Jesus said this: ‘Do not be worried and
upset…. Believe in God and believe also in me.’” (John 14: 1 TEV)
He then says, “What have you got to
lose by saying yes to Jesus? You’ll lose guilt, insecurity, lack of purpose,
fear of death, hopelessness, anxiety, shame, powerlessness, and a lot of other
baggage that you carry when you attempt to live without God’s guidance. Who
would turn down an offer like that? Still, God gives you the choice. You can
decide to keep living a self-centered life, separated from God, or you can
choose to turn your mind and heart from going your own way to following Jesus
(that’s called repentance). Then ask for forgiveness for all your sins, and put
your trust in God’s Son, Jesus, and what he has already done for you!”
So why not do it right now?
Comments
Post a Comment