Another Cry for the Lost/Broken

I am reading 1 Corinthians this morning, and over the last few days. I have got a million thoughts running through my brain and hopefully I can structure them together to make sense. I consider Paul’s feelings. He says, ********* 1 Cor 15:9-10: “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.” ************ That struck a cord with me, as it always does. We ache for our granddaughter who is lost in the streets, in addiction, and has been for a few years. I can imagine what goes through her brain when she struggles to get out of that life but feels unworthy for any other type of life because of what she has chosen and the resulting damage done to her spirit, mind and body. I think about how I feel in comparison to how she must feel, about my own salvation. I remember when God called me to become a minister I was ready. Of course, I thought I couldn’t possibly pass the tests, but I was obedient. And I received an anonymous text from someone, clearly who knew me from my past, that simply said, “YOU, to pastor?” I knew that there were many who would never see beyond my past mistakes, and I made so very many. But God. ******************* Listen to this: ************************ 1 Cor 1:26-29: “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothings things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” ***************************** I have always felt unworthy of, and yet have full faith in, my salvation. The difference is severe of course. Paul was instrumental at leading the world to Christ, while I am blessed just to have had a minuscule chance to minister to those who needed it for a time. ***************** I plead on my granddaughter’s behalf, who is lost in addiction, and on the behalf of those who have not yet broke free from darkness, literally every day. All the while my own soul will never feel adequate or deserving for what Christ gave up for me. It will always be this way because for as much as He has changed me, I know that I am still human and it seeps into my daily thought life and corrodes who I should be. I am my own worst critic. ******************************** So if I, who live a structured wholesome life feel unworthy, and Paul who sacrificed his life for others felt that way, can you IMAGINE how those lost in darkness and sin feel about coming to the Lord?? People tend to justify, hide their faces, self-sabotage. I have seen it a hundred times in my own family members, in my past and in the broken that we served. The hardest thing to overcome is the guilt and shame residue that covers the heart and hardens it to keep others from tormenting us, and the Lord from reaching out to us. We just don’t BELIEVE that He could possibly forgive US. ************************** But people, don’t believe me. Believe the Word! I didn’t write it. I just benefited by the grace of it. Listen:**************** 1 Cor 6:9-11: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, not idolaters, no adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” ************************ You see? Nothing is beyond the love and grace of our God. Or rather, NO one is beyond His grace and mercy. THAT is the whole point behind sacrificing Jesus’ life for our sins. He understood our humanness. *********************** 1 Cor: 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” ****************** He didn’t promise life would be easy. He knew there would be temptations in life. But He promised that we could endure it if we have faith in HIM, not our own ability, but HIS. And for those of you who doubt your chosen, for those who feel unworthy, He knew that you would. So He says: ************* 1 Cor 12:3: “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.” *********************** You see? You ARE chosen if you know that Jesus is Lord. Shame or no shame, you CANNOT say it unless you are chosen and in the Holy Spirit. Sure, you may be in a dark place and not see how that can even be possible, but He knows what your life can become in the future if you should just learn to trust in His promises. ************************* As I sit here, I know that I have written these words for Trinity and then for all of those poor souls who just don’t feel worthy or those who are allowing their own self-importance to trick them into not coming to Christ. This is actually why I started this blog so many years ago. I shant give up. AMy heart hurts for you. Open your eyes. LISTEN. ********************************