Therefore, being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1
With the whole day free...
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1
With the whole day free...
I have decided to spend as much time as possible in my cell reading and praying, and physically resting from a busy week. Besides, it's pouring rain outside. So for me, this is the best place to be.
Moreover, during my morning's devotional time, the Lord spoke to my inner spirit with many words of encouragement. I would like to share some of this now.
Shortly after I became a Christian, or one might say, a Messianic Jew, I had fallen into the terrible trap of believing that I had to continuously perform various tasks of Christian service. I was putting a lot of effort into doing many "spiritual" activities.
Looking back to these early years, I felt I had to earn not only the Lord's love, but also the love and respect of other Christians. I knew that many Christians were skeptical about my salvation experience. Some still are.
I remember feeling like a failure when I received reports from some of my new Christian friends who tried to share my testimony with their neighbors, and with those in their respective congregations. I recall feeling deep pangs of rejection, and I found myself questioning the value and validity of my own Christian life. I was a young believer. I began to doubt the Lord's love for me, and this went on for a number of years.
So in retrospect, it is easy to see how I quickly fell into the performance trap. I felt that I had to work very hard to win the approval of other Christians, and to show them that, yes, I truly love Jesus and that I am really one of His children. Thankfully, however, as I grew in my faith and as I became more rooted and grounded in God's word, He was able to deliver me from this bondage.
Today, I know the Lord loves me for who I am. His love is a free gift that doesn't have to be earned. My spiritual walk is so much easier, too. I do not have to prove anything to anyone. This is true freedom.
D.B.
Moreover, during my morning's devotional time, the Lord spoke to my inner spirit with many words of encouragement. I would like to share some of this now.
Shortly after I became a Christian, or one might say, a Messianic Jew, I had fallen into the terrible trap of believing that I had to continuously perform various tasks of Christian service. I was putting a lot of effort into doing many "spiritual" activities.
Looking back to these early years, I felt I had to earn not only the Lord's love, but also the love and respect of other Christians. I knew that many Christians were skeptical about my salvation experience. Some still are.
I remember feeling like a failure when I received reports from some of my new Christian friends who tried to share my testimony with their neighbors, and with those in their respective congregations. I recall feeling deep pangs of rejection, and I found myself questioning the value and validity of my own Christian life. I was a young believer. I began to doubt the Lord's love for me, and this went on for a number of years.
So in retrospect, it is easy to see how I quickly fell into the performance trap. I felt that I had to work very hard to win the approval of other Christians, and to show them that, yes, I truly love Jesus and that I am really one of His children. Thankfully, however, as I grew in my faith and as I became more rooted and grounded in God's word, He was able to deliver me from this bondage.
Today, I know the Lord loves me for who I am. His love is a free gift that doesn't have to be earned. My spiritual walk is so much easier, too. I do not have to prove anything to anyone. This is true freedom.
D.B.
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